Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Knowledge Tuesdays: Magic Eye


According to Wikipedia, Magic Eye is a series of books published by N.E. Thing Enterprises (renamed in 1996 to Magic Eye Inc.). The books feature autostereograms (precisely, random dot autostereogram), which allow people to see 3D images by focusing on 2D patterns. The viewer must diverge his or her eyes in order to see a hidden three-dimensional image within the pattern.

The Magic Eye images have a horizontally repeating pattern which differs slightly with each repetition, therefore giving the illusion of depth when each eye focuses on a different part of the pattern. The stereograms were created using a patented process that allows colorful patterns to be used in creating the final images.


Magic Eye stereograms have been used by orthoptists and vision therapists in the treatment of some binocular vision and accommodative disorders.

Personally, I have always loved the Magic Eye series. For some reason, my eyes almost automatically focus on seeing the images. I know other people who can’t see them for the life of them.




What about you? Do you see them? Or find them fascinating? Or is it just me?



8 comments:

Kittie Howard said...

Fascinating! But I didn't see what's written below in there.

Kerri Cuev said...

A trip down memory lane :) I love those! I remember they became a big hit and you could buy them poster sized. Thanks for the fun!

Christine Rains said...

I've never been able to see them. I don't know why!

Summer Ross said...

Some I can some I can't. Its weird but I never really got into them. I had a friend who did though.

Karate Los Angeles said...

I can never seem to see the 3D images, no matter what I try. Isn't there a trick to it or something? I find them interesting, I just wish I could see them more often then not!

Sara

Donea Lee said...

I love these! Sometimes it takes me a minute (and too much eye-crossing) to get them, but I eventually catch the images. Of course, then the 4th one blurts the truth out to me and I need to go be productive again. :)

Su said...

I have never been able to see anything. But one year I bought my Grandpa one for Christmas, and the whole family spent a futile afternoon trying to see the picture. ;) None of us ever did!

Carol Riggs said...

I LOVE Magic Eyes!! Fascinating. I have a couple of books (paperback) of them. :) Some people have a hard time seeing them, though. I have to practice if I haven't done it for a while.