THE FREEVIEWER'S ASSISTANT - Part I

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

THE FREEVIEWER'S ASSISTANT - Part I

While many of us debate whether we should allow DrT to post in 
photo-3d or make him start his own list :), at least one person is 
working quietly to bring innovative products to the service of the 
stereo community.

His name is Alan Lewis.

We knew Alan from his commercial work stereophotographing weddings and 
also from his line of fine stereoscopes.  For many of us Alan is also 
known for his web page htt:/www.arlington.net/homes/dlewis and his 
ingenious stereo projects that he is sharing with us.

Few months ago Alan manufactured and offered for sale the ACHROMAT 
Pocket stereoscope (Lorgnette), the first and only stereoscope with 
achromatic lenses of the modern era.  This stereoscope, which was 
reviewed and praised in photo-3d, is now becoming even more useful 
with a "Holmes conversion kit".  This kit allows the Achromat 
Lorgnette to be used as a conventional (Holmes) stereoscope and makes 
it possible to quickly remove it and make it portable again.  With 
this new kit one can get the best of both worlds using the best 
optical quality available for viewing stereo cards.

Up to this point, Alan's commercial products were focusing on the 
print maker or stereo view collector.  Now he has come up with an 
exciting product that is guaranteed to make its mark to all stereo 
enthusiasts, from the stereo view collector to the computer 3d fan 
and beyond.

This new product is called: THE FREEVIEWER'S ASSISTANT (or Pocket 
Stereoscope, or How to Get the Pain Out of Freeviewing!!!)

Alan writes in his web page:

"For years I was frustrated at my inability to easily freeview stereo 
images. Freeviewing [actually: cross-viewing] was done only when 
absolutely necessary, and for short periods of time.  I never had 
enough time (or comfort) to scan the stereo image slowly and take in 
the details.  You know, to relax and enjoy."

While looking for a solution to his freeviewing problem, Alan happened 
to read Theodore Brown's book (reprint available from Reel 3-D) 
"Stereoscopic Phenomena of Light and Sight".  In this book a small 
device caught his attention, called "T. Brown's Pocket Stereoscope" 
which was designed by the author of the book and marketed in 1895.  
Alan writes:

"I had serious doubts whether this thing could work.  The only thing 
to do when this is the case is to reverse engineer it, make one, and 
check it out.  I made a rough prototype that didn't appear to work.  
I just couldn't get the images to fuse into one 3-D image.  But, as 
any hacker knows, this just makes you more determined.  I kept moving 
the mirrors around until, quite by accident, I got a fused 3-D image. 
Wow!  That moment of instant fusing is always exciting to the hacker. 
Success.  I was freeviewing!"

The result is "The Freeviewer's Assistant".

I got my "Assistant" on Friday and gave it a good workout during the 
weekend. As always, I was very pleased with Alan's presentation 
(packaging & instructions) and quality (woodwork, etc.) of this 
product. As to the value of this little ingenious device, I have to 
say that it exceeded my wildest expectations.  

As you know, I have no problem to openly say when I like something and 
when I don't or when something is working for me, or not (that's what 
got me the label "opinionated" in the first place :))).  The proof 
that I am thrilled with this little device will come when you see me
wearing something that looks like a "wooden eyepatch" in my right eye, 
sorting through stereo cards in the NSA convention or local trade 
shows.  My family is already wondering what's that thing that I 
alternate between right and left eye and why am I yelling "WOW!" 
while looking at "double images" in the computer screen....

More information on what is this "Freeviewer's Assistant", how does 
it work and what can you do with it... is coming up... Please, stay 
tuned!!!

-- George Themelis


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