STEREOSCOPE SURVEY RESULTS

[shab@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Shab Levy)]

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STEREOSCOPE SURVEY RESULTS

A few weeks ago I conducted a small survey in which I asked members to answer
3 questions:

        1. If you could wish the ideal features that your perfect
            stereo-viewer would have, what will these be?

        2. How much money would you pay for one?

        3. What would you like to be able to see with it?

I received 9 answers, and including mine a total of 10 opinions. Assuming
that there are about 800 subscribers to this list, this represents 1.25%.
Hardly of statistical importance, but 10 expressed opinions in any event!
As a result of the low number of respondents, I have not even attempted at
do any analysis of the replies. Instead, I have simply listed all the
"required" features by categories. Several opinions have been repeated,
hence in some categories I don't have 10 opinions. Some of the respondents
were very thorough, some brief.  Two people actually had comments for
features they did not want: No fluorescent light and no accommodation for 2
individual 2" x 2" slides.

Other than reformatting the surveys, I have not done any editorial remarks.
One reply was definitely different and I thought it was worth to place it
here in its entirety. It is at the end of this list. I thank the 9
participants whose e-mail addresses follow:  \ michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxx \
s.spicer@xxxxxxxxx \ MarkKernes@xxxxxxx \ fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx \
gnored@xxxxxxx \ PHOTO3DGUY@xxxxxxx \ erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx \
JGoldenRRP@xxxxxxx \ SCHUB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx \ shab@xxxxxxxxxxxx \

TABLE

Format:          Realist,  European (7-p) , RBT-Full  2"x2"x2", 120 mm film,
Lenses, FL:      35 mm, 40 mm, 45 mm, Zoom-28-70 mm, Interchangeable
Lenses diameter: 40 mm, 50 mm
Lenses, kind:    Doublets, coated achromats
Interocular:     Variable adjustment
Focus:           Adjustable, preference for rack & pinion
Light:           Adjustable Intensity,  Halogen bulb, Fluorescent tube
Power:           Batteries with AC adapter, Rechargeable batteries

Other:  Lightweight, optional stand,  optional eye hood to accommodate glasses
        Attaches to head with head band
        Automatic loading for multiple slides
        Matte black interior, On-off switch plus momentary switch
        Eyes to come as close to oculars as possible (Eye relief)
        Storage box, Choice of color finishes, Large nose cut out

Price:  $49.95,   $100,   $150,   $175,   $250,   $500


The following is from MichaelK:

Features:

1. Handles all formats, including:
        a) Beamsplitter half frame format
        b) Realist format
        c) "European" format
        d) Dual 2x2's
        e) Dual 120-film formats
        f) Holmes-type cards
        g) Holodeck programs
        h) Anything else I didn't think of offhand...

2. Zero distortion lens system (no color distortion, etc.)
3. Auto-focus for each eye independently as well as auto-correction for
non-planar irregularities for each subject image.
4. Auto inter ocular (if needed)
5. Auto-ortho setting, with variable zoom as desired
6. Variable-temperature-equivalent-color light source, with perhaps an
auto-correction mode that auto-corrects on a per slide basis.
7. Auto shift correction mode that can auto-correct (or optionally correct
manually) windowing errors. Will remember settings which are set manually
so that when the slide is seen next time, settings are restored.
8. Handles "cartridges" of source material with mechanized "advance" to
following image
9. Has a "label" button which super-imposes (or places somewhere optically)
the description located on the source material into the visual field
without having to remove eyes from viewer. Source location is programmable
and is remembered.
10. Light level setting for each eye's view, with auto-correction mode
available (different from the light 's *color* mentioned in #6 above)
11. Auto-sharpen mode  (various other optical processing modes...with all
settings remembered  from the last time source looked at)
12. Small and lightweight . Fits into standard shirt pocket, even with
source-image cartridge installed
13. Free to whomever wants one
14. Auto-scratch removal
15. Whatever else I've not thought of in the ten minutes or so I spent
making this list. :-)

Cost: Well if # 13 is met, then nothing...

Many are possible, although digitization and perhaps DSP processing would
be needed (etc.) to do many of the items or their virtual equivalent. #12
needs tardis technology, and #13 perhaps would need matter-replicator
technology.
I expect much of these to exist in the next ten years or so after digital
cameras catch on ...source would likely not to include the legacy formats
in my list though.

Well, what'd *really* be "perfect" would be an implementation of the Star
Trek Holodeck (and a camera to auto-write programs to copy reality when the
record button is pushed.

THAT'S ALL (edit.)

Shab Levy, Portland, Oregon, USA

shab@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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