Final answer:
Depth perception is the ability to see in three dimensions and judge the distance of objects. It involves monocular and binocular cues that our brain uses to interpret a 2-D image as 3-D, which is exploited by 3-D movies and optical illusions. Understanding these cues helps us navigate the real world effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around the concept of depth perception, which is our ability to perceive spatial relationships in three-dimensional (3-D) space. We use a variety of visual cues to infer depth in a two-dimensional image. These cues are classified as monocular, which depend on one eye, and binocular, which rely on both eyes. An example of a binocular cue is binocular disparity, which refers to the slightly different views of the world that each of our eyes perceives. Optical illusions and 3-D movies are prime examples of how these depth cues can be exploited to make our brain understand a 2-D image as 3-D. This process is facilitated by 3-D glasses, which filter disparate information to each eye, enhancing the depth perception effect.
In everyday life, our brain employs these cues subconsciously. For instance, the phrase 'objects in mirror are closer than they appear' and the observation that clear mountain streams seem shallower than they truly are can both be attributed to depth perception cues. Ultimately, these visual cues help us navigate and interact with our three-dimensional world by establishing a mental representation that mirrors its properties.