Sid1114 (I believe) had a recent question about image stabilizing binoculars. I could not find his question again, but did ask and receive an answer from Canon:

"Thank you for your inquiry. The binoculars are able to use a motor to detach the optics from the casing. The optics sit in a transparent fluid like substance. So as the binoculars jiggle the optics do not. This allows the view to remain still."

Yes, that was I, before the crash. Thanks for your effort: I'm embarassed that I didn't think to inquire of Canon myself. I wonder what the motor does....In using the binocs, one pushes a button, before which they behave like any others, and after which there's a sort of click and the image stabilizes. There's no more sound or sense of machinery after the single click. Push again, and there's a similar click, and it's back to no stabilization. Interesting

The ones I use at work stabilize the image by using a motor driven gyroscope that controls the position of the prism platform. Pushing the button turns on the gyro that counteracts the shakiness in your hands and provides a stable image. The 15X45 Canon 'IS' is quite expensive, like over a thousand dollars.

that sounds like a good explanation, also. Thanks. My binocs are the canon flavor; indeed pretty expensive, but not quite to the 1000 buck level.