Visual Information Processing in Augmented Reality: Some Aspects of Background Motion

We assessed discomfort, time and number of saccades for reading a text superimposed to a moving background. When background moved in the main directions of reading (left to right or top to bottom), discomfort was rated significantly lower than when background moved in the opposite directions. Neither time for reading nor number of saccades are affected by background motion. We therefore conclude that increased arousal might be responsible to cope with effects of background motion, resulting in an increased stress and rising discomfort when background moves opposite to main directions of reading. The findings suggest that reading in Augmented Reality for mobile use must be considered as a robust process. However, load may be increased and cause complaints in a prolonged reading task.