P3D Re: My Mother told me...

[Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>]

> Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 
> From: Rehotshots@xxxxxxx
> ........ My Mother told me never to cross my eyes, so that 
> is a very difficult thing for me to do emotionally and physically.  
> I can't thank you all enough or apologize enough for my 
> misjudgement of you.  
> 
>                                                               Sincerely, 
> 
>                                                                 - Teri 


****  I enjoyed reading the rest of the letter too, but will comment 
on this somewhat frequent mis-concept.

Viewing stereo images via the cross-view method is NOT the same thing 
your mother warned you about. That reference is to extremely crossed 
eyes, as you encounter when trying to look at your nose, or *go 
crosseyed* to look funny, as kids often do.

Cross-eyed viewing only refers to the fact that the line of view from 
your eyes crosses between you and the images. This angle of view need 
not be extreme. 

In effect you always view the world cross-eyed except when gazing at 
the horizon. For example, reading a newspaper at the breakfast table.
Your eye's are crossed relative to what they would be if you were 
looking at your friend on the other side of the table, because you are 
directing them at the foreground surface of the paper. 

You could look at either the paper or your friend without straining 
your eyes. Your view-paths usually cross precisely where you are 
looking. This is perfectly normal.

In cross-eyed stereo viewing, it is no different, except that the 
actual images being viewed are farther away than the point you are 
looking towards. That point shouldn't be anywhere near your nose!

You can cross-eye view stereo images for hours at a time with no 
particular strain or discomfort, once you know the skill. The key 
to this is that you move far enough back from the images so that your 
viewing angle is very comfortable and normal from a physiological 
point of view.

Enjoy,
-- 
Larry Berlin

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