the window is skewed in the way that the smallest side of it is allways smaller than the larger side.
So even when the large side is furthest away from the camera, the smaller side, in the front, is still percepted as smaller, and you brain tells you it therefore must be furthest away.
This of course only applies when filmed. When viewed live, your brain remains smart. 

i wanna see photos so i know what is going on 

I think because I already know what these things look like, I really have to concentrate on it to 'see the illusion'. To me it looks like an angularly designed window with a tube stuck through it, going around in a circle. 

Yay! Im still naieve enough to get the full effect. This is pretty awesome. 

mind freeeeaaaaaaak 

See it in action:

http://www.keithschofield.com/goose/

The song's not that great, but the Ames window is put to great use. Keith Schofield's done some other pretty interesting music videos, my favorite being One Block Radius' "Loud and Clear". 

I've had enough mind-fs for one day, thank you very much. 

I do very much appreciate these perspective illusions, such as Ames room and "gravity holes", but I did not ever think to submit them, as I figured there was no one left in the free world who hadn't seen it. 

I literally just stared at this and said "Whaaaaaat?" Three or four times. 

Only works in videos. Breaks with stereoscopic vision, just like the little concave dragon. 

Why do all of these illusion videos always come with a snarky British voiceover? 

Sweet! 

Oafah said:

I do very much appreciate these perspective illusions, such as Ames room and "gravity holes", but I did not ever think to submit them, as I figured there was no one left in the free world who hadn't seen it.

manohman you're so cool and hip and avante garde. just...wow 

wat wat? 

It'll work to varying degrees in person.
IF you're far enough away that stereoscopic vision does not convey depth, within the limits of the ideal viewing angle, and the lighting does not produce shadows nor bright spots on the surface which give away the orientation of the surface versus a fixed light source, then the effect should be impressive. 

b000ring 

Okay... I'm here. It's definitely spinning both directions simultaneously. I think I can see a girl dancing in the background too. She's definitely spinning left. Or was it right... 

ignite said:

I think I can see a girl dancing in the background too. She's definitely spinning left. Or was it right...

I've never been able to get her to change directions. Stupid brain. 

mediaphile said:

See it in action:

http://www.keithschofield.com/goose/

The song's not that great, but the Ames window is put to great use. Keith Schofield's done some other pretty interesting music videos, my favorite being One Block Radius' "Loud and Clear".

i like it, but the supports under it totally ruin the illusion for me.