POLARIZING SYSTEM FOR MOTION VISUAL DEPTH EFFECTS

A system for creating the perception of visual depth in scenery comprising lateral movements. A polarizing projection filter 21 controls the plane of polarization of projected light. The plane of polarization is changed by changing the orientation of the polarizing projection filter. An observer wears special viewing glasses 22 with polarizing filters when viewing scenery illuminated by the polarizing projection filter. The plane of polarization of the polarizing viewing filter for the right eye 23 is rotated 45 degrees clockwise from horizontal. The plane of polarization of the polarizing viewing filter for the left eye 24 is rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise from horizontal. When the polarizing projection filter is rotated clockwise from horizontal the scenery appears brighter to an observer's right eye than to the observer's left eye. Objects moving laterally 42 from right to left from the observer's perspective appear closer to the observer 43. Objects moving from left to right appear farther away from the observer. When the polarizing projection filter is rotated counterclockwise from horizontal the scenery appears brighter to an observer's left eye than to the observer's right eye. Objects moving from right to left from the observer's perspective appear farther away from the observer. Objects moving from left to right appear closer to the observer. In the first and second embodiment of the invention, the scenery comprises polarized imagery projected on a viewing screen. In the third embodiment, the scenery comprises live scenes illuminated by polarized light. The scenery can be viewed in full color. The dead eye effect can be avoided by periodically changing the plane of polarization of the polarizing projection filter.