Re: Stereo Camera Design Proposition

[T3D Michael Kersenbrock <michaelk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I don't know what an attorney will tell you about this, but perhaps
> this group could engage in general *ideal stereo camera descriptions* and
> build from that point. The ownership of the information would likely be
> *public domain*. What a camera design group would do would be to
> extrapolate from the generalized specs and develop an actual working
> system. That discussion and design would have to be *private* and protected
> by non-disclosure agreements and whatever else may be needed.

If you are serious in a *commercial* venture to implement a
stereo photography system, the first step is, IMHO, is 
*not* to startup design.  It's to start a preliminary business plan.
Select, define, size, and characterize the customer base you want
to target.  If you want to go for the "best camera we can make",
figure out to whom you will sell it to, and how many of them
will buy it.  This is much more than finding a builder/seller unless
you can get them to do it -- hopefully before you've wasted time and
money designing that which can't be sold at the pricepoint you need
to show a profit.  Do a bit of preliminary research to see if assumptions 
made are valid.  Use a high-level product description (okay, a "little" 
design, but not the "what's the ideal product", but "what's the best 
product for the targetted customers").  Then work out the numbers and 
a budget.  THEN dive in and execute!  I'll likely buy one, but not 
if I'm the only customer and will have to pay all of the development 
costs amortized on the first unit!

Good luck!
Mike K.

P.S. - I'm serious about getting at least a preliminary rough business
       plan done first.  If you ever need money for tooling (etc) lending
       or investing companies (a builder/distribution company would qualify
       here as well) will insist on a non-preliminary plan that's well 
       thought out and researched adequately (IMHO).  It's not fun like
       the design part is, but really is something needed up front.  At
       very least, the target customer definition keeps the design 
       decisions focused.
   

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