Re: Stereo in the 1600's ?

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,

>Peter Homer wrote:
>It is true that although some people seemed to have some understanding of
>stereo long before Wheatstone they dont seem to have made the crucal step
>of combining pairs in a stereoscope or even free viewing.

If people were much like people even in early historical times, there was a
lot more going on than ever got written down, much less have it survive to
this day and age. While we may not have proof of any of them using the
information it seems they had, we have no proof that they didn't use it.
What was written down may have been a routine summary of commonly known and
observed phenomena.

Undoubtedly, people in that day had two eyes so the phenomena of seeing a
different view from each eye was well known though generally ignored. It
follows that observing this difference assumes the starting point that these
two different views are perceived as one complete image by the mind.
Noticing and pointing out the difference was the only unique ingredient.

They also had small tiles in use on walls and other spaces, which a number
of people today freely view in the same mode as free-viewing of stereo
pairs, without knowing that is what they are doing. The same must have been
true in historical times, just not recorded and widely used. 

Another typical human experience, at least among those who party heavily, is
"double vision". There could have been thousands of people in ancient times
that observed the stereo image phenomena without knowing what to do with it
or having the ability to remember it later. ;-)

We are very used to all of our knowledge being recorded and available to
read. In ancient times, the writing of all information would have been
considered very wasteful, so common phenomena was seen whenever someone
cared to notice, but not usually recorded so people in the future would know
of their experience. I give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they
knew and were aware of more than we usually give them credit for.

> The best evidence I have come across for a steroscope before Wheatstone
>was an article in the UK stereoscopic society journal No 127 Jan 1995 page
>17 with the illustration in No128 April 1995 page 16/17 by Jonn Sharp .

I'd love to know where to find a copy of this article?

Thanks,
Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/


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