Nintendo has filed a patent with the US Patent Office for a device that enables 3D viewing on conventional 2D displays through the use of viewpoint tracking.

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The device detects the movement of the player to give the illusion that objects being displayed exist in a three-dimensional space. The patent states that this will give gamers "collision-related game logic benefits," such as allowing players to dodge projectiles, or giving them in-game character awareness. One example cited is characters reacting when the player looks away from them.Using a tracking system, the hypothetical device determines the position of the player or where the player is looking, and determines the player's viewpoint. This would produce a parallax effect, where images in the foreground move faster and further than images in the background. This creates a sense of depth. A similar system is in place on iOS devices, where the background shifts at a different rate than the foreground elements when the device is moved.Somewhat peculiar, near the end of the patent, are other possible uses for the device to help create a more immersive gaming experience."Smell is a very strong sense. There may be some ways to produce aromas for a very strong experience," reads Section 100 of the Background and Summary. Beneath that are entries pointing to virtual wind and blowing cool air on the user's face to simulate different temperatures.Of course, this isn't Nintendo's first foray into the world of 3D. The 3DS allows for glasses-free depth of field effects through stereopsis, which is how the brains of people with stereoscopic vision calculate depth. Slightly different images are seen through each eye and the brain combines them to produce a sense of depth. This effect relies on the device being held at a certain distance from the users' eyes, however. The ill-fated Virtual Boy system worked similarly , as is the case with most 3D systems in place. When a gamer would peer into the viewer on the console, each eye would have a slightly different image broadcast into it, and the brain would reconstruct these images with a sense of depth in place.People with monocular vision, where one eye is significantly weaker, don't respond to these vision tricks. However, most people who lack stereoscopic vision take clues about depth from parallax motion. This means that Nintendo's device could provide a passable 3D experience for those unable to see three dimensions in other devices that rely on binocular vision.

Seth Macy is a freelance writer who likes taking photos. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy , and MyIGN at sethgmacy