[photo-3d] 3d sightings - San Francisco

[Andrew Woods <A.Woods@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

3D Sightings - San Francisco
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One of the attractions at The Sony Metreon in San Francisco (cnr of 
Fourth & Mission Streets) is a short 3D movie called "The Way Things
Work - in Mammoth 3D".  The theatre uses three rear projection screens
in an arc in front of the audience - but only the centre screen is 
stereoscopic.  Linear polarised projection is used and the audience
are provided with specially printed cardboard polarised glasses.
The movie is based on the book "The Way Things Work" by David Macaulay.
Entry price is US$5 (+tax).  
  http://www.metreon.com/MetreonSF/Attractions/TheWayThingsWork.asp

On a technical note, when I visited the theatre the vertical alignment
was fine but the horizontal alignment was out.  Maximum uncrossed
parallax (where images appear into the screen) was way too extreme - much
greater than the average person's 65mm eye separation, meaning that
some images were quite hard to view.  
In an all too common experience, raising this problem with the centre's 
staff was a frustrating experience.  They thought giving me a refund would
fix the problem - sheesh!  As it was a Sunday when I visited, their 
technical staff were not available but I was assured their technical 
manager would contact me come Monday.  That never happened and I have 
no idea whether the incorrect alignment was ever fixed.

Other stereoscopic attractions at the Sony Metreon are an IMAX 3D theatre
and a shop which will photograph and print a special hologram of you (cost
US$5).

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|  Andrew Woods   | Centre for Marine Science and Technology,      |
|                 | Curtin University of Technology,               |
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