  Effects of computer generated 2D and 3D views on the time and precision of
bare-handed or tool-mediated eye-hand coordination were investigated in a
pick-and-place-task with complete novices. All of them scored well above
average in spatial perspective taking ability and performed the task with their
dominant hand. Two groups of novices, four men and four women in each group,
had to place a small object in a precise order on the centre of five targets on
a Real-world Action Field (RAF), as swiftly as possible and as precisely as
possible, using a tool or not (control). Each individual session consisted of
four visual display conditions. The order of conditions was counterbalanced
between individuals and sessions. Subjects looked at what their hands were
doing 1) directly in front of them (natural top-down view) 2) in topdown 2D
fisheye camera view 3) in top-down undistorted 2D view or 4) in 3D stereoscopic
top-down view (head-mounted OCULUS DK 2). It was made sure that object
movements in all image conditions matched the real-world movements in time and
space. One group was looking at the 2D images with the monitor positioned
sideways (sub-optimal); the other group was looking at the monitor placed
straight ahead of them (near-optimal). All image viewing conditions had
significantly detrimental effects on time (seconds) and precision (pixels) of
task execution when compared with natural direct viewing.
