Types of 3D displays

in (roughly) increasing order of difficulty. Included are the depths cues associated with each type, beyond binocular disparity (which all provide).

stereoscopic

  • 2 views; needs viewing aid: stereoscope or glasses
  • methods: polarized, anaglyph, time-multiplexed
  • cues: maybe motion parallax if viewer is tracked

    autostereoscopic

  • two or more views, or continuous views
  • methods: parallax barrier, lenticular, moving slits, Integral photography
  • cues: limited motion parallax (if more than 2 views)

    volumetric

  • light scattering from 3D points
  • methods: varifocal mirror, moving projection surfaces or emissive surfaces
  • cues: motion parallax, accommodation, convergence, but NO occlusion or specular reflections

    holographic

  • 3D images
  • method: diffraction of light by a computed holographic "fringe" pattern
  • provides all of the depth cues!


    Synthetic 3D Imaging / Mark Lucente / copyright 1996