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Since the introduction of television, various types of three-dimensional video systems have been used for industrial, medical, educational and entertainment purposes. The systems can be divided into two classes: (1) Stereoscopic Video Systems, which require special glasses or viewing aids; (2) Autostereoscopic Video Systems, which do not require glasses and are viewed by free vision. The two or more images required for these displays are picked-up by stereo optics with a single camera and multiplexed on a single communi-cation channel or they are picked up by two or more cameras utilizing an individual channel for each camera. One or more CRT's with stereo optics are employed in the receiver. The stereoscopic display provides the viewer with added realism and spacial information not available in any other manner. For entertainment purposes, the 3D picture enhances almost any program, including sports, drama and news. Typical industrial applications are for: remote viewing in connection with the remote driving of vehicles or operating manipulators; educational studies of solid geometry and atomic structure; and medical studies of surgical procedures. Stereo video also is being used in connection with microscopic optics to provide a stereo video microscope which has numerous advantages over a conventional optical microscope.
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