You can easily tell the difference between a monocular and binoculars if you know the meaning of their prefixes, which are one and two, respectively. This means that a monocular is only half the form of binoculars. A monocular is particularly easy to carry since most models weigh half as much as binoculars.
A monocular is technically a modified form of a refracting telescope. Just like their twin counterparts, they are designed to magnify distant objects by letting light pass through a series of prisms and lenses. The use of a prism actually makes the monocular a lightweight version of the telescope.
A Brief History
There are several accounts of the early use of the monocular in Ancient Arabia and in the other parts of the world. It is believed that the monocular was produced during the 17th century due to the recorded patents during such era. Hans Lippershey is known to be the first recorded maker of telescopes, including the monocular and binoculars; this does not mean, though, that he is the person who came up with the design and who produced its first prototype.
The monocular was also widely used as a defensive device during war. You could easily identify a rider from afar using such an instrument. A monocular also allowed recognition of banner colors from far off to see if people approaching were allies or enemies.
Modern Functions
People with visual impairments usually use a monocular to see distant objects that would otherwise be indistinguishable. Due to these functions, the monocular is also widely referred to as a telescope. Examples of practical applications include reading of texts projected on a screen or written on a chalkboard. A monocular serves as a great alternative to wearing eyeglasses for non-frequent users.
The monocular is also known as a pocket scope. The reason behind this is the small pocket size of some models, designed for activities like espionage or hunting. These monoculars are manufactured by companies like Zeiss, X20, Barska, and Brunton.