Impossible Open Spaces: Exploring the Effects of Occlusion on the Noticeability of Self-Overlapping Virtual Environments

Impossible spaces uses self-overlapping virtual architecture to in-crease the area of virtual environments that can be explored by walking. This paper details a preliminary study using psychophysical methods to explore if users' ability to detect overlapping virtual spaces changes when the walls of overlapping rooms and the paths connecting them are removed. The results indicate that impossible spaces can be deployed, even when no walls are presented between adjacent rooms. However, the absence of walls appears to make it easier for users to detect impossible spaces.