Re: Busy busy busy - another metadiscussion

[P3D John W Roberts <roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 17:54:37 -0600
>From: "P3D  Jonathan R. Gross"  <catalyst@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re:  Busy busy busy - another metadiscussion

>> From: P3D John W Roberts 
>> 
[John B:]
>> >Does anyone think stereo computer graphics warrants its own group 
>> >as opposed to photographic stereo?  They overlap so much, it would 
>> >seem like dividing the baby, but computer discussions do get into 
>> >such non-stereo, or very-loosely-related topics it's truly amazing.
>> 
>> I'd prefer that the stereo computer graphics be kept on this list rather
>> than split off, but the preference isn't very strong. If it were split off,
>> I suspect the volume on that topic would shoot way up, and it would be
>> more about how to use such-and-such a commercial package and less about
>> basic theory and technology.

>What is the difference between a discussion on how to modify the hot
>shoe on a stereo camera, and a discussion on a clever way to use a
>(commercial) software package to achieve a new visual effect?  

Fundamentally, maybe not a whole lot. I wouldn't recommend splitting off
a "hot_shoe_mod-3d" list either.

>Perhaps, one is tangible, and the other is not.  A strange criteria on which to
>differentiate by people interested in stereoscopy. 

I get the impression that you read things into my post that I didn't intend.
I think computer-generated 3D and computer-assisted 3D are great, and I enjoy
reading about them on P3D. Based on the charter of P3D, posts on this topic
tend to be about the technology, theory, and general descriptions of available
and new products - what I need to find out about some great new gizmo.
What doesn't get on here much is a month-long debate on whether setting
Parameter R17 to a value of 21 is better than setting it to 133, to 
generate a pleasing granola-like texture, in the commercial package
X-Y-Zeee, from Strabismus Software. The latter information is valuable,
to be sure, but not to me, because X-Y-Zeee costs $5000, which I can't
afford, and it only runs on the Heffalumpics 9000 computer, which I don't
have. 

If a separate computer-3d list were split off, I predict that discussions
of the latter sort would come to make up most of the volume of that list,
and *I* couldn't justify the time to wade through all those posts to get
to the occasional one I like. Furthermore, a new list of that type would
replicate discussion groups that are already available, such as alt.3d
(reportedly lots of discussion of details of software packages), and other
mailing lists and newsgroups for specific packages. The way it is now -
with computer 3D discussion as a sort of hanger-on to P3D - provides
just the information I need. If I find out about X-Y-Zeee on this list,
and want to learn more, I can follow pointers in the post, or go to
Strabismus' Web page. If I need to know about hot shoe modifications, I
look here, because as far as I know, this is the only place on the Internet
where such things are discussed.

Perhaps that's a selfish viewpoint, but John B asked for preferences/advice,
and that's mine.

John R


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