Re: The Latest Offense

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From: greg.marshall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (P3D Greg Marshall)

>The people who think of stereo pictures as something like a 
>"cheap trick" are not that far wrong.  

How is this deducted from the rest of your writings?  Stereo imaging
is not a "cheap trick" by any means.  Nobody calls 2d photography
(or imaging in general) a trick except for perhaps a primitive
tribe that is shown photographs for the first time. We are accustomed
to recognize people and places from 2D images.  3D images give you the 
same, plus more (depth).  Why is that a "cheap trick"?

>In fact, stereo imaging can be compared
>to stereo audio recording versus live performance, and it doesn't
>compare well.  Stereo audio is almost universally accepted
>while stereo imaging is the domain of a few... how could you
>describe us?  In both cases the argument goes that there are
>two sensors (2 eyes, 2 ears), so two sources should be
>adequate.  But clearly, in both cases, this argument is
>wrong!  Let he who is without sin...

I don't follow this... The basic difference and the reason that
stereoscopic imaging has not become as popular as the universally 
accepted stereophonic sound, is that the eyes demand precise
coordination and alignment between the two images while the ears 
do not.  I can talk to you in your left ear and someone else in 
your right ear and you could follow both conversations or choose 
to ignore one of the two, without absolutely any problem.  What
will happen if I present one image to your left eye and another
one to your right????  The images presented in both eyes in real
life have only minute differences.  The brain converts these
minute differences to glorious depth.  This simple fact is the
beauty and curse of stereoscopic imaging.  It is fascinating that
from two almost identical images the brain reconstructs the
third dimension.  It is a curse because if the two images are
not sufficiently similar or preciecly aligned the result is
nausia and discomfort.  The demand of precise control and
alignment is the reason that stereoscopic imaging has not become 
as popular as stereophonic sound.  This has impications both in
recording and presenting the stereo images.  You can sit in a chair 
and read your paper while you are listening to stereophonic sound.
You can drive a car and enjoy stereophonic sound. It is that simple!  
That's why it is popular.  Creating stereoscopic images is complicated
and viewing them is even more compicated.  We hope that computers
and digital imaging will change this situation.

-- George Themelis



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