Re: Updated 3Discover Info

[P3D Oliver Dean <3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gregory J. Wageman wrote:
> Hmm, was the VM Personal camera conceived as part of an integrated
> system, or developed after the viewer/reel format?  (I'm not sure
> of the answer, but I *think* the camera came much later.)  The point
> being that the "system" could be successful without having been
> conceived as a "system".  I think other forces will be much more
> important, such as 1) cost, 2) availability and 3) ease of use.

I agree that it's possible for a system to be successful without having
been conceived that way, but I think you're stacking the cards against
you with the 3Discover concept. Also, when the system is designed as a
whole, you get much BETTER cost, availability, and ease of use.  And
ViewMaster didn't have an intrinsic design that prevented projection.

> 
> While it's certainly true that the cassette design precludes projection,
> how many people project *any* photographic format, these days?  I don't
> think the lack of projection ability will have any significant effect
> on the potential market.

MMmm, Gregory, haven't you heard of 35mm slides??:>) (I know you have!)
There isn't really a good way to view them EXCEPT by projection, partly
because the 35MM slide viewers generally sold in camera stores are, with
possibly a few rare exceptions, mostly dogmeat, and partly because
projection is the most practical group viewing method.  And for 16mm and
8mm movies, I know of only a couple of viewers that were ever made for
them outside of editor viewers -- they are displayed almost ALWAYS by
projection.  For stereo slides, the ONLY way to share an organized set
of slides with a sizeable group of people is by projection.  

No, I think that if a stereo slide design is serious about becoming a
complete system, a 35mm stereo camera that is part of the system would
have to be capable of making pictures that can be projected or shown to
a group in some way in order to be successful. Possibly 3Discover has in
mind some way of plugging the cassette into an electronic scanner that
will allow the pictures to be displayed in field-sequential stereo on a
computer monitor or NTSC TV set... who knows at this point?  But it
seems to me they've kind of shot themselves in the foot by ruling out
modern projection technology.  Maybe they have an alternative cassette
design in mind ... ?

> 
> Was a projection system ever developed for the Tru-Vue format?  (I
> don't know the answer to this question, either.)

I'm with you on this -- I don't know either!  Maybe one of the others on
this list knows the answer to that one!

Anyhow, thanks for your observations!  They forced me to examine some of
the possibilities when I composed my reply.

Cordially,
-- 
Oliver Dean -- 3d-image@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dominguez Hills (near Los Angeles), Calloushernia, USA


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