Re: Single lens Stereoscopy in the 1600,s?

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Creative inventor William Carter writes:

>of Leonardo da Vinci, from the 'Trattato della Pittura' (1561) is where
>he says that one eye may see features hidden to the other eye as they
>view scenes from slightly different positions. An earlier reference to
>this same effect can be found in Euclid's 'Optics' from around 300 BCE.
>Both Leonardo and Euclid considered spheres and round columns to
>generate this effect. Proving, at least to me, that they fully grasped
>the conciept of stereopsis.

It appears to me that there is a big gap between recognizing the fact
that each eye is presented by a different view and fully grasping the
concept of stereopsis.  

>From what I have read, I get the impression that, even though these early 
writers recognized the disimilarity of views presented on each eye, they 
were unable to recognize that the two views are "blended" into one with 
depth.  

Wheatstone's first stereoscopic drawings are the best demonstration 
showing that this is indeed the case.  For example, a pair with a circle 
and a displaced dot when viewed via the stereoscope it becomes a cone.  
One could not have a better "proof" or demonstration of stereopsis.  

Wheatstone is credited with the invention of the stereoscope and his work 
with it helped put all the previous observations into the proper 
perspective.  That's the impression that I have formed by reading 
different accounts of the history of stereoscopy.  

George Themelis


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