Chromatek glasses

[T3D Martin Simon <msimon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Does anybody know about these glasses and how they work? They are almost
>clear glasses and quite unlike polarised or red-and-blue glasses.
>Henry Chung

These glasses have been around a few years now, at least since the early
90's.  They are a high tech version of strong prisms which deflect light
more or less depending on frequency (color).  The prisms are oriented
oppositely in each eye to increase the retinal disparity (perceived 
parallax) by a factor of two.  So, each color has a different perceived
parallax and depth.  
   In practice, things are a bit messier.  The preceived depth depends
on the background color and adjacent colors as well.  Some colors need a
black border to appear at the right level.  I don't understand all the
perceptual issues involved.  Some things work ok but others don't. 
    I think I remember that the glasses were produced by a combination
of holographic technique and binary optics at MIT.  An improved version
came out a few years ago.  They first became popular for use in laser
shows.  Later they showed up in comic books, posters, and computer
animations.  Crayola sold a set of pens and glasses with instructions 
on making your own pictures, which may still be available at toy stores.



Martin Simon     
mailto:msimon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx     
http://www.physics.ucla.edu/~msimon


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