Final answer:
Binocular vision is the perception of depth and three-dimensional structure arising from the different views obtained by each eye. This is due to binocular disparity, a key factor for depth cues that is used in 3D movies and other visual technologies. The significance of this type of vision is highlighted in daily activities that require depth perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Binocular Vision?
Binocular vision is the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and to judge the distance of objects. This unique form of vision arises because humans and other primates have two eyes positioned on the front of the face, providing slightly different views of the same scene. When the brain processes these different images from the two eyes, it provides depth perception and a sense of three-dimensional space. This ability is fundamentally important for tasks requiring hand-eye coordination and for judging distances accurately.
An intriguing example that highlights the significance of binocular vision involves the story of a man named Bruce Bridgeman, who lived with stereoblindness due to an extreme case of lazy eye. After decades without true depth perception, Bruce experienced binocular vision for the first time after viewing a 3-D movie, which activated cells in his visual system designed to interpret binocular cues.
Binocular vision utilizes several cues to create its effect, but binocular disparity is a key factor. This disparity refers to the slightly different positions of objects in the images from each eye, which the brain can use to gauge depth. This phenomenon is a fundamental principle exploited in technologies such as 3-D movies. Using different visual information for each eye and combining them in the brain creates the illusion of depth on a two-dimensional screen.
Overall, binocular vision is crucial for the perception of depth and 3D structure in our environment, impacting various everyday activities and fields, including medicine, entertainment, and even sports, where catching a ball is reliant on good depth perception.