<P> Camera obscura (plural camerae obscurae or camera obscuras; from Latin, meaning "dark room": camera "(vaulted) chamber or room," and obscura "darkened, dark"), also referred to as pinhole image, is the natural optical phenomenon that occurs when an image of a scene at the other side of a screen (or for instance a wall) is projected through a small hole in that screen as a reversed and inverted image (left to right and upside down) on a surface opposite to the opening . The surroundings of the projected image have to be relatively dark for the image to be clear, so many historical camera obscura experiments were performed in dark rooms . </P> <P> The term "camera obscura" also refers to constructions or devices that make use of the principle within a box, tent or room . Camerae obscurae with a lens in the opening have been used since the second half of the 16th century and became popular as an aid for drawing and painting . The camera obscura box was developed further into the photographic camera in the first half of the 19th century when camera obscura boxes were used to expose light - sensitive materials to the projected image . </P>

What is the meaning of the latin word camera obscura