Re: neotek flamed

[P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Tue, 02 Sep 1997
>From: P3D ron labbe writes:
>
>Larry Berlin writes:
>>WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TWO EYES. WE WANT TO USE BOTH OF THEM IN VIEWING STEREO
>>IMAGES. WE HAVE BEEN PROMISED STEREO IMAGE ACCESS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY SINCE
>>BEFORE WE WERE BORN, YET IT HAS TAKEN TILL NOW FOR IT TO COME ANYWHERE CLOSE
>>TO THE PROMISES. WE ARE NOT WILLING THAT ANY COMPANY SHOULD FURTHER DEPRIVE
>>OUR INALIANBLE RIGHTS TO MAKE AND USE STEREOSCOPIC IMAGES BY THE RESTRICTION
>>OF AN ENTIRE MARKET THROUGH PROPRIETARY FORMATS AND PROCEDURES. YOU DON'T
>>OWN MY TWO EYES, NOR DO YOU OWN MY ABILITY TO SEE WITH BOTH OF THEM. 
>>
>
>This is some of the hottest flame I've endured on this list. Larry does not
>speak for all stereo image people- I hoped he has not burned the Neotek
>guys off our list. I very much appreciate their stereo efforts- (As well as
>Larry's, when he's not on his high horse.) I've heard nothing but good
>things about their system, which is supported by Michael Starks/3DTV who
>had been in the stereovideo business longer than anyone I know. 
>

******  A challenge was offered and I took the time to respond to the
specific issues raised with better information than the challenge included.
I did not flame Neotek and lest you doubt that, I appreciate their presence
on this list, the products they make, and the ideas they discuss even when I
disagree with them. I in no way intended my admittedly passionate statements
to be interpreted as flaming. I do believe that I speak collectively when I
state that *we* have a strong desire to enjoy stereo images. I will take
umbrage when some corporation comes along and tries to restrict my access to
stereo images on the basis of proprietary file formats. Maybe that doesn't
bother you, it does bother me.

If you will re-read John's message, he offered some equally serious
allegations that I felt with good reason were way off the mark. I don't care
if he's been in the business for 100 years or 2 years. Or whether he knows
one person or some other person. The ideas he stated were misleading to a
significant degree. I was passionate in my response, because 3D is my
passion. I did not intend flame any more than his statements were intended
as flame. 

If his company wants to tell us about something valuable in NEO, fine, I'm
waiting along with everyone else. If it is made available for use, and
offers something special that I like or want to use, I'll consider using it.
Until it's available, it matters very little. As a proprietary format it's
of little value to anyone outside their circle. 

I've seen their system, though not as thoroughly as I'd like, and believe it
to be high quality. At this time I wouldn't want to own one for reasons
previously stated. A couple significant but small changes would greatly
improve it's desirability in an overall stereo sense. It is my hope that
they can take the debate on the *issues they raised* as what it is, not just
the wild ravings of some random person off the street. There was good reason
for everything I stated, and I was responding to what was said in his post.

I'm glad their system offers 3D under circumstances where it would be
difficult to do it any other way. I wish certain changes could be made in
how it operates (software improvements). I hope their future development can
improve their system overall and make it have a more broad application. And
don't try to tell me that cardboarding comes from JPG compression! It's not
true, and used as a persuasion attempt to make their system look good, it
becomes a sales tactic not a discussion of fact. There are plenty of facts
that can provide examples of the quality in their system. The JPG comparison
isn't one of those.

BTW, not everyone saw my message as flame either. I was thanked for speaking
up on issues others didn't have time to write about.

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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