A 'stereopticon' is a
projector or "
magic lantern", which has two lenses, usually one above the other.
These devices date back to the mid 19th century, and were a form of entertainment and education, before moving pictures. The term stereopticon has been widely misused to name a
stereoscope. A stereopticon will not project or display
stereoscopic / three-dimensional (
3-D) images. The two lenses are used to dissolve between images when projected. All stereopticons can be classified as
magic lanterns, but not all magic lanterns are stereopticons.