How do users perceive and engage with 3D environments on 2D displays, especially in the context of VR and A?I? Interestngly enough, there exist an interplay between the classic optical illusions we are normally confronted in psychology, and how it directly connects to the core foundations to rendering “optical illusions” which gave rise to the idea of a 3D in 2D plane by the use of clever depth designs, and our brains natural instinct to simply believe the distortion and act it is a 3D environment. This is the very foundations that pinpoints 3D environments in computers, rendering in a 2D plane (i.e, a monitor!), and now its use cases in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

Cognitive Psychology and Spatial Perception and Illusion in Virtual Environments.

This area studies how humans perceive space and depth in different environments. In the context of VR/AR and 3D rendering on 2D screens, it examines how the brain interprets these flat images as three-dimensional spaces. In summary, while aspects of perceptual psychology, computer graphics, and other fields are integral to understanding VR and AR, HCI provides a comprehensive framework that encompasses these diverse elements, focusing on the interaction between humans and these advanced computer systems. It's a field that can holistically address the technological, psychological, and practical aspects of creating and using 3D environments on 2D displays in the context of VR and AR.

1. Illusion and Reality: The brain's ability to reconcile the difference (or blur the line) between what is real and what is an illusion is central to this sub-topic. It delves into how and why certain visual cues are interpreted as three-dimensional, even when presented on a flat screen.
2. Cognitive Processing: This includes understanding the cognitive processes behind how we interpret and navigate these artificially constructed 3D environments. It addresses questions about how our perception matches up with virtual representations and how our brains adapt to these representations.
3. User Experience in VR/AR: A key part of this sub-topic is studying how these perceptions affect the user experience in virtual and augmented reality settings, and how this knowledge can be used to improve design and interaction.

Key Areas of Focus

• Depth Cues and Visual Processing: Understanding how traditional depth cues (like perspective, shading, texture gradients) are processed in the brain when viewing 3D renderings on 2D displays.
• Illusion Techniques in Virtual Environments: Investigating specific techniques used in VR/AR to create convincing illusions of depth and space, and how they impact user perception.
• Adaptation and Aftereffects: Studying how exposure to virtual environments affects perception, both within those environments and in the real world afterward.
• Realism and Immersion: Exploring the relationship between the realism of the virtual environment and the level of immersion experienced by users, and the psychological implications of highly immersive virtual experiences.

In summary, the sub-topic of Spatial Perception and Illusion in Virtual Environments within Perceptual Psychology and HCI is a precise way to address the fascinating ways in which our brains process and adapt to the illusion of 3D spaces created on 2D screens. This focus provides a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between visual perception, cognitive processing, and the design of virtual environments.