P3D Re: stereo laser pointer

[Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Wed, 05 May 1999
>From: Tom Hubin <thubin@xxxxxxxxx>
>..................
>A more practical question is how you would use it. The person doing the
>pointing would need to point at the subject with the pair of pointers
>while controlling the angle seperating the two pointers and while not
>rotating the pointers.

****  Sounds simple enough. One could even arrange a gravitationally
balanced support mechanism that allows something simple like squeezing to
control the angle. Simple enough to think *distant object*, and it points there.


>
>Is this a fantasy or have you actually seen it done somewhere? Why not
>just point to the right eye view and let the viewers brain see what it
>wants to see?
>
>Tom Hubin
>thubin@xxxxxxxxx
>

****  Maybe that's not elegant enough? Or too easy?

That's like asking a mountaineer why he/she climbs mountains...

If you're into Stereo 3D, why use a flat pointer? Why not devise a way to
point exactly *where* you want to point in a full x,y,z space? Sounds cool
to me!

Actually this sounds like a very nice solution for stereo pointing. I've
tried pointing to things on the computer screen in 3D viewing mode, but each
observer sees the image as projected in their own direction. Pointing to
what I see doesn't get my pointer to what someone else sees. Nor does
pointing with an object allow me to point behind the screen itself. 

The use of a laser pointer would depend on parallax of the two points on the
existing (projection) screen surface, the same plane on which the image with
it's own parallax is projected. Therefore every viewer will see the pointer
highlighting the same feature for everyone in the room.

Why leave such a wonderful toy just for pointing? Why not turn the lights
out and equip everyone with 3D pointers for a communal and active light
sculpture/light dance, in real time? Maybe with stereo music and 3D slides
too? Hmmm...

Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 3310
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