Re: The Latest Offense

[P3D BRUMLEVE <John.Brumleve@xxxxxxx>]

Dr. T.  Wrote:

> 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.

        True, Except...

        The hearing system of the human animal is as precisely configured as
that of a bat ("Sonar" capabilities, etc.)  I propose that most
people have become lazy aurally and have given up on the subtle
nuances that are available in the aural field.  (Witness how popular
it has become to have the bass beat driven into the skull by 12"
subwoofers while travelling down the street.)
        For the aural field to be fully appreciated, aural perception needs
to be just as precisely aligned and (here comes the Big One!) TRAINED
as that of the visual field.  Every day our visual acuity is
challenged with our modern environment.  Is it any wonder we have
largely not lost the ability to perceive our visual environment.
        In summary, it is not that our hearing system is not as finely
configured, it is just that our BRAINS have come to expect less
information in our aural environment. :-(

> It is fascinating that from two almost identical images the brain
> reconstructs the third dimension.

        My thought is that (given training and lack of damage) our ears do
the exact same thing from two aural images that are likewise nearly
identical.
         Both ears receive the same aural image, with only minor
variations of level and timbre as sound pressure waves travel around
the head. There are very important cues about sound position brought
about by phasing variations between the two ears (analogous to
positional information provided by our relatively narrow interoccular
separation) and by certain sound-focussing effects provided by the
ear structures themselves.

>The demand of precise control and alignment is the reason that
>stereoscopic imaging has not become as popular as stereophonic
>sound.

        Again, the BRAIN'S demand, ...brought about by practice and
availability of experience.
         If late 20th century homo-sapiens asked as much of their aural
equipment as they did of their visual equipment, I could assure you
that "Hi-Fi", no, wait, "Stereophonic", no, wait, "Surround" sound would all fail
to appeal as they do today.  They would be regarded with as much
disdain as we have toward all of the various not-quite-up-to-snuff
3-D (insert your favorite bete-noir here) "shtuff" we see going on
out there.

>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.

        I'm afraid that people enjoy stereophonic sound, and take it for
granted, but do not acknowledge that as a reproduction of a true
sonic environment, it is sorely lacking.  I have often found bad 
aural experiences to be nearly as nauseating as a pseudoscopic, 
hyper-hyperstereo with baseline rotation between the two images. (Ugh)
        Coming full circle, this discussion was inspired by a parallel that
I feel may exist between sight and sound and that exists on an
entirely different, non-technical, level. 
        Perhaps people have gained a complacency with today's cluttered
aural environment that it has left them to view each further advance
in sound reproduction to be "miraculous" compared to that which
preceded it.  Perhaps because of the visual clutter that competes for
our everyday attention, people see any "cheap trick" as being some
way to visual nirvana. 

        Of greater concern to me is that eventually this visual complacency
may lead to a people that CANNOT tell the difference between what is
real and what is visual verisimilitude:  People who cannot see the
beauty of any true stereoscopic view and are easily lured into the
den of any experience claiming to be "Virtual", AKA: "Hi-Fi".  Maybe
it is a good thing that stereoscopy has not advanced in fidelity
beyond the point where people can't care or can't tell it from 
reality anymore.  Alas, I wax Philosophical.

        Seriously, as this is my first-ever posting, an introduction may be
in order.  I am an architect who has received training in
psychoacoustic phenomenon and in their fidelity, correction and
forgery.  I came into the stereoscopic fold as a result of this
experience and hold both visual and aural fidelity near to my heart. 
Please don't take this as a flame, Dr. T., as I have only used your
words as a pulpit for my own (we stand on the shoulders of giants.)

John  Brumleve

john.brumleve@xxxxxxx
also, less frequently:  brumski@xxxxxxx


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