Stereooptický

Stereooptický refers to a method of producing a three-dimensional effect by presenting two slightly different two-dimensional images, one to each eye. The brain then fuses these two images, perceiving depth and volume. This phenomenon is closely related to stereopsis, the visual perception of depth and three-dimensional space.

The principle of stereooptics relies on binocular vision, the ability of most humans and many animals to use both eyes together. Each eye captures a slightly different perspective of the same object due to the horizontal separation of their positions. This difference in perspective, known as binocular disparity, is the key ingredient for stereooptics. When these disparate images are presented to the brain in a way that mimics natural vision, the brain interprets the differences as depth information.

Applications of stereooptics are widespread. In entertainment, 3D movies and video games utilize stereooptics, often employing specialized glasses to separate the images for each eye. In scientific and medical fields, stereoscopic imaging is used for tasks like viewing microscopic samples or analyzing medical scans (e.g., CT scans) to better understand anatomical structures. Engineering and surveying also benefit from stereooptics, particularly in aerial photography and photogrammetry, where creating 3D models from overlapping images is crucial. The technology behind presenting these paired images can vary, including anaglyph 3D (using colored filters), polarized 3D, and shutter glasses technology.