Re: Stereo Difficulty

[P3D Dr. George A. Themelis <fj834@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jon Gross asked about possible correlations among people who lack
stereopsis, possibly increased automobile accidents?   Somehow I don't see
how stereopsis helps in driving, assuming that you have two otherwise
healthy eyes.  I don't think that stereopsis is a required test to obtain a
driving license (in the USA at least).  Monocular cues (like motion
parallax when driving) are very strong, most everyday actions (except
possibly from passing a thread through the eye of a needle) do not rely on
stereopsis and most people who lack stereopsis are not even aware of this
deficiency.

>One of the
>impediments to  the commercial use of stereoscopy has to do with the
>wisdom of using a visual technique which is not effective on 10% of the
>population.

True, but the remaining 90% is still a large proportion of the population. 
The question that is still unanswered in my mind is why do some of this
90% has such diverse reactions when exposed to stereo.  Some people go
bananas, others are totally indifferent (even though they enjoy a healthy
stereopsis).  We have examples of couples where one spouse is in love with
stereo while the other, even though is also interested in photography, has
no interest in stereo photography.  Same with parents and children or
friends.  Of course, there are exceptions, but, from personal experience,
my wife (once a photographer) does not care, my brother (still very
interested in 2D photography) does not care, same with sister, parents and
most friends.  It is not that these people have failed to see my
enthusiasm, it is just that they have not been moved by it.

If seeing stereo images is such a great experience, as many of us see it,
why do we fail to attract to stereo our close friends and relatives?

George Themelis

PS.  While I had written this, I read Mark's contribution to the same
exactly question, stated as: " It's not the art of 3-D that doesn't
sell....is in the delivery."  Yes, sounds promising.  But it needs a lot of
clarifications...  BTW, does the Karen part of Mark & Karen enjoy stereo
as much as Mark???


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