What is Binocular disparity? Binocular Disparity cannot be mentioned without talking about the human eyes. The eyes are separated by the inter-pupillary distance of about 50 mm and more. The distance is depended on individuals. The eyes have different views to things that are happening around the surroundings. This is noticed when one eye is closed while the other looks at things at vertical angles.

The disparity of binocular can be noticed from apparent horizontal shift of the vertical edge that is seen between the eyes views. There is a point where the eyes’ line of sight converge at a point. It is this meeting point that projects to the center of the two eyes’ retinae.

The difference between the point of projections that are seen in the eyes is called the visual binocular disparity and it is expressed in degrees.

Binocular disparity is defined as the difference that is seen in picture location of what is seen by the right and left eyes, that is caused by parallax. The human brain makes use of the binocular disparity for the extraction of information from the retinal images in stereopsis.

In computer vision, you can refer to this binocular disparity as the coordinates differences of similar feature s that is within two stereo pictures.

Uses of Binocular Disparity

The knowledge and understanding of disparity is vital in the other extraction of information gotten from the stereo images. Disparity is also useful in the distance and depth calculation.

Distance and disparity are inversely related in cameras. Disparity will decrease as the distance increases from the camera. It is this process that makes it possible for depth perception when it comes to stereo images. Algebra and geometry is used in creating 2D stereo pictures that can be easily mapped in 3D space as coordinates.

For navigation, this concept is very useful. Take for instance the Mars Exploration Rover makes use of a similar concept in its terrain scanning against obstacles.

The rover will use its stereoscopic cameras for capturing images and disparity calculation to fins obstacles in elevated positions.

The speed data and location can be gotten from stereo images captured. This is done by measuring the rover to the displacement of objects.

What is binocular disparity?

There was a time the binocular disparity was a strange field, but with advancement in researches and studies, it has become clearer and neat. The slight difference found in the visual images that gets to the two eyes has been believed to the disparity we are talking about.  When you view an object that is closer, you will see binocular disparity that is greater than the one that is in a distance. You can observe this when you close one eye to view an object and then open the eye and close the other. You will observe that the closer objects seem like appearing to jump when you switch the eyes, that will show the images in different eyes. However, the distant objects are not going to change their positions.

The binocular disparity is used in a stereoscope. The illusion of depth that is found in stereoscopes is gotten in binocular disparity.  In the 1800s, this was one of the wonders that were seen. An example of the beauty of this can be seen in those ancient pictures taken from slightly different angles.

Over the years, binocular disparity is seen in popular cultures. The concept was used in the premise for the Wayne’s World movie sketch, where Wayne who was found on the bed looking as Tia Carrrere’s character.  Then Cassandra was seen perching above him and comparing the respective pictures seen from his right and left eyes, while observing the effect.

When it comes to computer vision, the stereo images are calculated to get binocular disparity from stereo cameras. The difference seen between the cameras is what is called baseline. The baseline can seriously affect the disparity of image plane at a specific point. The disparity increases as the baseline increases. This is due to the fact that the greater angle is required to align the image or sight on a particular point. Though, when it comes to computer vision, the binocular disparity can be referenced as coordinate differences of the point seen on the left and right images. The images can be measured in pixels.

The post What is binocular disparity? appeared first on Binocular Lab.