Create Stereograms on Your PC: Discover the World of 3d Illusion/Book and Disk

Rating:
Summary: Just a lot of fun to do
Review: When I was a software developer, a co-worker brought in a large portrait of a stereogram. A stereogram is an image where if your eyes focus just right a different, embedded image appears to protrude from the page. Despite my best efforts over several weeks, I was unable to "see" the stereo picture. However, I remained very interested in the concept, so I acquired this book. Finally, after looking at the pictures while riding the bus to work I was finally able to put my senses in the proper frame to see the image of the stereogram. From then on, I had a great time with the book. It is amazing how these images are put together and how our brains somehow "extract" stereo designs from what appears to be a random jumble.
The package also contains a diskette with programs that you can use to create additional images. They are fun to use and one can burn a great deal of time playing with them. Advanced monitors are not necessary, as some images are constructed from text.
There are probably some significant conclusions about visual perception that can be made from these images. However, that is not relevant here. What is important is how much fun it is to view them and how surprisingly easy it is to create them.