Stereo 3D Images As A Way for Eye Relaxation
If you spend the day starring at the computer monitor, your eyes will be strained from having to focus all the time at close, fixed distance. So it's good to periodically relax them by looking at some remote object (you can use a break reminder like WorkPause to remind you when to do it, if you tend to forget.)
And if you don't have a window nearby, you can use stereoscopic 3D (three-dimensional) images as a replacement - and you don't need special glasses or any other tools. Just your eyes, the computer screen, and a simple skill called parallel freeviewing.
Autostereograms
The images suitable for freeviewing are called autostereograms. There are two kind of stereograms, intended for parallel or cross-eyed viewing.
A sample image for parallel viewing is shown below:
To be able to see the 3D picture, you have to let your mind combine the two images in one:
- First, relax your eyes, as you would do when looking at the horizon, and stare at the images without trying to focus on them.
- Try to look at the left image with your left eye, and at the right image with your right eye, but do not focus on the images themselves, instead look "through the screen" into the distance. Move closer to the screen.
- You'll get a kind of double-vision at first, but that's normal. You'll see the toy figure four times; try to move your eyes so that the two figures in the middle are merged and become one.
- At this moment you should be able to see the entire 3D image.
If you don't succeed at first, do not despair. Try to move closer or farther from the screen, relax for few minutes and try again. It's difficult to do it the first time, but with a little practice you'll learn to see the image almost instantaneously.
Also, check the excellent tutorials here: How To View Stereograms or here: How to Freeview Stereo (3D) Images
There is another method of freeviewing that involves crossing your eyes so that your left eye looks at the right image and vice versa. Below is the same image, created for this kind of 3D viewing.
However, this method will put more strain to your eye muscles and might feel unconfortable at first.
