Stereoscopy.com Bookshop: Wonderful ideas for Christmas
3D-News Posted: Monday, October 28, 2002 (17:31 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
It will soon be Christmas, so it's time again to find the right gifts for your loved one(s) or yourself. Books, Videos and DVDs are always wonderful gifts. The largest selection of 3D-books is available at Stereoscopy.com's Bookshop at http://stereoscopy.com/bookshop The revenues from your purchases through this bookshop help us to pay for the server to run Stereoscopy.com - please contribute to our efforts to keep Stereoscopy.com and to expand its contents in the future. Of course you may also purchase any other book, CD, DVD or Video through this shop - even if it's not 3D-related. Thank you very much in advance for your continued support. Happy 3D-Shopping! Alexander Klein Webmaster

	Barco to deliver Projection Solutions for complete Update of DaimlerChryslers Virtual Reality Center
3D-News Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2002 (6:49 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
In close cooperation with SGI, BARCO has been chosen for the Daimler-Chrysler Virtual Reality Center (VRC) project. This project includes a complete update of the VRC as well as expansion of the capacity and functional capabilities of this key visualization technology, which has already proven productive for DaimlerChrysler. These latest enhancements will ensure that the VRC holds an unequivocal top position as the world's largest and most complex central facility for immersive visualization used on a productive day-to-day operating basis. The SGI order is valued at EUR 6.5 million, half of which will be used for the acquisition of the projection systems from BARCO Imsis. The VRC, located at the heart of the Mercedes Technology Center (MTC), is used intensively by designers, engineers and project managers working in the MTC on different automobile projects. Virtual reality (VR) has been installed in the most varied forms of immersive stereo projection, including a 5-sided I-Space (fully immersive room), different CADWalls (powerwalls) and a curved screen. Using these varied forms of projection, the Mercedes teams rapidly analyze and understand their digital models and simulation results. The teams are also able to optimize and validate models and make the right decisions at the earliest possible stage within an ideal environment for multidisciplinary collaboration. As DaimlerChrysler's VRC head Thomas Jäger stated, "Our goals have been attained faster than we expected. Thanks to the VR application, we were able to generate double-digit percentage savings in cost of physical prototypes and development times. This motivated us to devote ourselves to quantitatively and qualitatively expanding the possibilities of the VRC. The benefits are obvious. In addition, the community of users within the MTC is growing as well." The update and expansion of the VRC covers almost everything that is currently installable in terms of immersive VR technology and interface types. A five-sided, I-Space, a double-segment CADWall and a single-segment CADWAll will be retrofitted. In the future, information display in ultrahigh resolution will be possible on all projection segments. The stereo operation mode will be installed as passive stereo technology so users can wear comfortable polarization glasses. BARCO LCD digital technology will be used for the projection, beaming up to 1600x1200 pixels (UXGA) per segment and eye, in stereo channel. A double-segment CADWall of the same build, a double-segment L-shaped immersive desk, also in passive LCD stereo, and a second 4-sided I-Space in active stereo will be newly installed. The unparalleled features of the BarcoReality 909 projectors, which are used in the 4-sided I-Space, make them ideally suited for these kinds of applications. The extremely high resolution of 3.200 x 2.560 pixels and the unlimited compatibility with any kind of Image Generator are excellent projection qualities and crucial for the realization of such a prominent and technical challenge. "It's a well-known fact that SGI delivers the most high-performance visualization systems and solutions in the industry," said Volker Starck, manager for the Immersive Solutions activities and the DaimlerChrysler VRC project for SGI's Professional Services organization in Germany. "Our resource management software has become another exemplary stand-alone product on the market. It reflects the many years of experience SGI has gathered as the lead innovator and builder of many sophisticated facilities based on SGI Reality Center technology." Francois Montoya, managing director of BARCO GmbH states, "We are happy to contribute as a major subcontributor for this important project. Our commitment in Sindelfingen underscores that BARCO is not only a supplier of innovative projectors, but also commands broad skills and experience when it comes to realizing complete high-resolution projection systems and fully optimized stereo quality." The VRC-update includes more than two dozen BarcoReality SIM 6 Ultra in UXGA, and SIM 6 in SXGA resolution, which have all the requirements to deliver a perfect separation of the stereo-image. Outstanding feature of the SIM 6 Ultra is the 1600 x 1200 pixels resolution. In all its installations, BARCO uses proprietary projection technologies to achieve excellent picture clarity combined with very high resolution.

	IMAX to Launch Worldwide Release of Its First-Ever 3D Animated Holiday Feature Film SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3D
3D-News Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2002 (6:30 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
Steve Oedekerk (Jimmy Neutron, The Nutty Professor) and O Entertainment Take 3D Animation to a Whole New Level with a Hilarious Holiday Classic Using IMAX 3D Technology Opening nationally and internationally at IMAX(R) theaters on November 1st 2002, SANTA VS. THE SNOWMAN 3D is the first-ever IMAX 3D animated holiday film. The film will play throughout the holiday season, and is sure to be a holiday classic for many years to come. From the Academy Award(R) nominated team behind the family hit Jimmy Neutron, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D is the hilarious brainchild of Steve Oedekerk (co-creator and producer of Jimmy Neutron, writer of The Nutty Professor, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Patch Adams). Santa vs. the Snowman 3D is unlike any of the traditional 3D films of yesterday. It combines the unique properties of 3D and digital computer animation with The IMAX Experience(R). The result is breath-taking 3D images projected onto screens up to eight stories tall and 120 feet wide and enhanced by the 12,000 watts of uncompressed digital sound. Distinct from any of the animated films of today, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D was re-framed and animated with CG technology in 3D, captivating the viewer and making them feel as though they are reaching into the screen. 3D glasses are essential to the experience, resulting in a truly revolutionary, immersive adventure that transports kids of all ages from the theatre to Santa's Workshop in the North Pole. Directed by John A. Davis with animation provided by DNA Productions and Omation, Santa vs. the Snowman, features the celebrity voices of Jonathan Winters, Ben Stein and Victoria Jackson. Turning tradition on its head, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D, tells the heartwarming story of a lonely Snowman who at first is swept away by the magical wonders of Santa's Village, only to ultimately wage war on Santa because he is jealous of all the attention that Santa gets during Christmas time. What ensues is a polar feud of hilarious proportions, where ultimately friendship reigns supreme and audiences are rewarded with a heart-melting holiday film. Creator and executive producer Steve Oedekerk stated, "Santa vs. the Snowman 3D captures the true holiday spirit, but with a comedic twist that I feel will keep adults as well as children entertained for years to come. Seeing the images in staggering size on the gigantic IMAX screen, in true 3D animation, brings narrative storytelling into a new dimension. We're getting a glimpse of the future here. The audience lives inside the film. It's really exciting, like watching what movies may be 50 years from now, a first step in redefining the experience of movie-going." Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler, Co-Chairman and Co-CEOs of IMAX Corporation, say, "As IMAX's first-ever 3D animated holiday film, Santa vs. the Snowman 3D marks an exciting new direction for 3D animation technology and IMAX Corporation. This revolutionary approach to 3D animation provides movie-goers with an entirely new and engaging experience, and we are looking forward to future projects with Steve Oedekerk and his award-winning team." Santa vs. the Snowman 3D was created by Steve Oedekerk; written by John A. Davis; and is produced by Paul Marshal, John A. Davis and Keith Alcorn. Santa vs. the Snowman 3D is directed by John A. Davis and executive produced by Steve Oedekerk. It is distributed by the IMAX Corporation and available to IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX Dome theatres.

	IMAX Launches In South America With Four New Theatre Signings; IMAX Continues International Expansion Progress
3D-News Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2002 (6:28 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
IMAX Corporation announced on October 16th its launch into South America, signing agreements for a total of four IMAX(R) theatres to be located in Chile and Ecuador. These state-of-the-art giant screen theatres providing the world's best cinematic experience, continue the company's progress on its international expansion efforts and deliver on IMAX's long-term goal to bring The IMAX Experience(R) to new and diverse communities around the globe. "IMAX's entry into South America with these four new theatres is an exciting moment for our company and is really only the beginning for us in a market that we believe can support many more IMAX theatres in many countries," said Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler, co-CEOs and co-Chairmen, IMAX Corporation. "We have found that once an IMAX theatre opens in a new region of the World, that theatre typically drives demand for even more theatres and we are optimistic that this will be the case in South America. The combination of the low, but growing, penetration of IMAX theatres around the world and the increasingly strong film slate for IMAX theatres reinforces our confidence that IMAX still has significant opportunities for continued growth." Both Chile and Ecuador will have two IMAX theatres. In Ecuador, the Malecon 2000 Foundation will operate a theatre utilizing the IMAX(R)Dome technology to be located in Malecon 2000 in Guayaquil, the country's most complete and modern center of urban recreation; the second, an IMAX(R)3D theatre, operated by the Universidad San Francisco De Quito will be located in Cumbaya, Quito. The two IMAX theatres in Chile will be operated by MEGASCREEN S.A., with the first -- utilizing IMAX 3D technology -- to be located in Santiago. A location for the second IMAX theatre in Chile is yet to be determined. All four theatres are scheduled to open by the end of 2003. "We are constantly looking for new ways to attract audiences to Malecon 2000," said Guillermo Suaya Laprida, Project Manager, Malecon 2000 Foundation. "The IMAX Experience is the highest-quality family friendly entertainment experience available and it's perfect for the patrons that come to Malecon 2000." "IMAX is a great combination of education and entertainment," said Julio Subercaseaux Mac-Gill, President, MEGASCREEN S.A. "For that reason, we feel that The IMAX Experience, with its diverse film library, is ideal for our consumers in Chile." During the past six months, launches of several European IMAX theatres located in Vienna, Austria, Nuremberg, Germany and most recently, Katowice, Poland and the first IMAX theatres in China exemplify the strong consumer demand for The IMAX Experience throughout Europe and in emerging markets like Asia. Consumer enthusiasm and support for the launch of the new IMAX theatre in Warsaw, Poland led to the opening of three additional theatres in the region. In addition, IMAX's signing last month of an agreement to open an IMAX 3D theatre in Moscow, Russia further underscores the Company's successful international expansion efforts.

	Tony Alderson: Obituary
3D-News Posted: Sunday, October 27, 2002 (6:21 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
TONY ALDERSON Stereo Caricaturist 1954 - October 22, 2002 By Ray Zone At 48 years of age, Tony Alderson, stereographer, cartoonist, and voluminous correspondent on photo-3D has passed away. Succumbing to liver and kidney failure in North Hollywood, California at 10:30 pm on Tuesday night, October 22, Tony went to the great 3-D drawing table in the sky. Hired to work at 3D Video Corporation in 1982, Tony converted Jack Kirby's art to 3-D for the "3D Cosmic" book Battle for a Three Dimensional World. He also created numerous stereo conversions, including one for a Friday the 13th Part 3 poster in 3-D that has since become highly collectible. Tony is the artist responsible for the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA) 2002 Convention logo and he also created the logo in 1986, the last time the convention was held in Riverside, California. The new logo was a gorgeous computer-generated montage combining the classic Holmes stereoscope, Sir Charles Wheatstone, and a Keystone motif with some California oranges and blossoms. The 1986 logo, with deft line art rendered into 3-D, combined the Keystone motif and a stereoscope which held an actual stereo pair showing palm trees, another symbol of Southern California. Before leaving 3D Video Corporation in 1983, Tony produced the 3-D conversions for the Topps Jaws 3-D gum trading cards. He wrote an interesting "3-D bible" for the artists at Topps and it contains some clear observations about stereoscopic fundamentals for neophytes. "In the 3-D conversion process," Tony wrote, "I take the drawing you supply me as the left image. I then simulate the right image by cutting apart copies of the drawing and reassembling them with the proper displacements to create retinal disparities when viewed." Tony always wrote about stereography with great clarity. After leaving 3D Video Corporation in 1983, Tony began working in motion pictures creating special effects for films like Metalstorm 3-D for which he did stereoscopic rotoscoping. At the same time he served as President of the Stereo Club of Southern California (SCSC) from 1984 to 1985 and its Program Director in 1986-87. Tony's monthly covers for SCSC's 3-D News during his term as President were witty stereo-delights. His inaugural page was a side-by-side 3-panel "freevision" stereographic cartoon showing him blasted out of a cannon straight at the reader. For his final cover Tony produced the very first anaglyph issue of the 3D News. It featured a self-caricature and a visual joke about the "stereo" window. Over the years Tony produced stereo conversions for such 3-D comic books as Sheena 3-D, Spirit Classics in 3-D, The Rocketeer, Spacehawk 3-D, Dracula 3-D and 3-Dementia Comics which reprinted one of Tony's great humorous inventions from 1985. "Noble crusade or cynical scam?" queried Tony who depicted himself as a hapless cartoonist fleeing a demonic cyclopean business man whose pockets overflow with cash. The comic was 3D Zomoid Illustories, the world's first to be published "in the miracle of FREEVISION." The narrow, vertical side-by-side cartoon panels related "The Nightmare of 3-D Jonestown" and was a thinly veiled and very humorous expose of the rise and fall of the 3D Video Corporation. During his twenty-year career as a stereographer, Tony used NASA satellite telemetry to produce computer-generated anaglyph movie "fly-throughs" of Yosemite and Venus for a 3-D CD-ROM project. He also created numerous gray-scale depth-map stereo conversions for two different series of Star Wars lenticular 3-D trading cards. Tony wrote numerous articles on stereography for magazines such as Stereoscopy, published by the International Stereoscopic Union (ISU), the March 1993 issue of which includes his essay "An Introduction to 3-D Computing." Tony worked on many film and TV projects with his business partner Frank Isaacs at the AI (Alderson-Isaacs) Effects company which they co-founded together in 1994. They both recently won Emmy awards for their special effects on "Dune" which premiered on the Sci-Fi cable channel in December 2001. Though he has many stereographic accomplishments, I always thought of Tony Alderson as a stereo caricaturist, poking devastating humor at himself and the highly competitive world of 3-D business. As a kind of prescient finale to his stereographic work, Tony presented a slide program which was a career overview titled "Make Those Lenses Swing" at the NSA 2002 Convention.
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	Pennsylvania Museum Looks at 3-D Technology
3D-News Posted: Monday, October 14, 2002 (11:41 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
A new museum is giving people a peek at technology that allowed people to see 3-D before red-and-blue lensed glasses. The Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum on Sunday will open its doors and show its collection of stereoscopes — hand-held viewers that gave people the illusion of three-dimensions and were popular ways to pass the time before motion pictures. The collection includes thousands of stereoviews, lantern slides, documents and books from the former Keystone View Company. The company, which was based in Meadville, was once the largest and was the last maker of stereoscopes in the world before it folded in 1978, well after the stereoscope's heyday. The museum's collection includes travelogue images of foreign countries, pictures of U.S. presidents from Lincoln to Truman, images of airplanes from the Wright Brothers' to the Spirit of St. Louis, and pictures of World War I warfare. "It's fabulous stuff. It's limitless. For a year and a half, I've been doing this and I haven't begun to see it all," said museum executive director Jodi Kohlstrom. Stereoscopes rely on the human brain to create 3-D illusions. Because each eye sees the world from a slightly different angle, the brain combines both images into one picture. Slight differences between what each eye sees, called binocular disparity, can make one portion of an image appear to jump out. The first stereoscopes were made in Europe and imported to the United States, but eventually two U.S. companies — Underwood and Underwood, founded in 1882, and Keystone, founded a decade later — rose to prominence. Stereoscopes were beginning to lose ground by 1885, but Underwood and Underwood and Keystone kept the images alive by offering travelogues or tours of exotic locations in a box. Underwood and Underwood shifted from stereoscopes to news photography and sold its collection to Keystone in 1920. Two years later, after buying other company's collections, Keystone was the only stereoscopic publisher in the world. Keystone kept stereoscopes alive until 1939 by selling educational sets, some written by poet Carl Sandburg and travel lecturer Burton Holmes, to schools and libraries. It sold its stereoscope business to the Mast Development Co. in 1963, which donated its collection to the California Museum of Photography at the University of California-Riverside. At Keystone, George Shaw, one of the people the museum is named for, preserved some 70,000 stereoscopic views and other equipment, moving them to a warehouse in Franklin, where they stayed for 26 years. Shaw then bumped into Lance Johnson, a son of Keystone's former production head Harold Johnson, who had amassed a personal collection over 53 years with the company. "We thought the stuff had been carried to a landfill," said Eric Johnson (news), Lance's brother. "We were dumbfounded." The brothers persuaded Shaw to donate the materials to the museum. After 26 years in storage, the old images are apparently no worse for the wear. "It was unbelievable. The stuff was still in the original cabinets," said Linda Gallegos, Kohlstrom's assistant. "We have some collections that are still wrapped in the individual package." The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays from October through February. On the Net: Johnson-Shaw Stereoscopic Museum: http://www.johnsonshawmuseum.org

	eXtreme 3D System from X3D Technologies Wins 'Best of Show' at Internet World Fall 2002
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, October 8, 2002 (5:59 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
In a major endorsement of its technology, the eXtreme 3D System from X3D Technologies received the "Best of Show" award on October 3rd at Internet World Fall 2002. The award is given to the product judged to be the most noteworthy out of all the innovations represented on the show floor. Winners are chosen by an expert panel of Internet World magazine editors. "The Internet World show is renowned throughout the industry as the event where the most cutting-edge Internet technologies are unveiled," said Elliot Klein, CEO X3D. "To be singled out among the many other innovative technologies is both an honor and a strong endorsement of the eXtreme 3D System." X3D Technologies won in the entertainment category for its eXtreme 3D System, which can change two-dimensional Internet and video content into 3D content "on the fly." Packaged to include X3D Gateway Software, the X3D system delivers a more realistic and powerful visual experience to video games and the Internet. X3D (eXtreme Three Dimensional) images appear to float in space, inside and in front of the computer screen, providing an immersive user experience. The technology has a broad range of uses, including entertainment, gaming, education and business. X3D applications run the gamut from video games that create 3D fantasy worlds to eCommerce solutions that leverage the IBM WebSphere platform to present products as they are seen in the showroom. For more information, go to www.3dworld.com .

	StereoGraphics Announces CrystalEyes Workstation
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, October 8, 2002 (5:57 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
New Eyewear Designed Specifically for Desktop Applications StereoGraphics® Corporation, the world's leading supplier of Stereo3D(TM) visualization products, announced on October 1st CrystalEyes® Workstation, new liquid crystal shuttering eyewear designed for the unique needs of the desktop user. It has an improved design to reduce interference from infrared lighting and from a multiple user environment. CrystalEyes Workstation can be used by scientists and engineers for visualizing complex 3D images in Molecular Modeling, GIS/Mapping and Medical Imaging. "We are always looking for ways to improve upon our already successful visualization products. Our customers told us they needed eyewear designed specifically for the desktop, so we created CrystalEyes Workstation," said Bill Barnes, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, StereoGraphics Corporation. System Requirements and Compatibility CrystalEyes Workstation and the E-2 emitter work with all stereo-enabled graphics cards and software applications. It is compatible with major computer operating systems including Linux, UNIX, Windows 2000 and Windows XP workstations. All leading Molecular Modeling and GIS/mapping developers support stereoscopic viewing and are compatible with CrystalEyes Workstation and the E-2 Emitter. Pricing and Availability The new CrystalEyes Workstation includes the E2 Emitter and a copy of Parallax Player, StereoGraphics' Stereo3D viewing software for the PC. It has a suggested list price of $995 (U.S.). CrystalEyes Workstation will be available October 15, 2002.

	Ford Selects SGI Reality Center Technology for Visualization And Design Optimization
3D-News Posted: Tuesday, October 8, 2002 (5:50 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
SGI Systems Help Automotive Manufacturer Gauge Impact of Design And Engineering Changes in Real Time SGI announced on September 24th that Ford Motor Company has purchased and installed SGI® Reality Center(TM) technology for its North American car visualization facility. Design and engineering teams at Ford's Dearborn, Mich., headquarters will be able to compile three-dimensional, immersive representations in real time from multiple data sources and formats for critical design and assembly reviews. As a result, Ford can optimize product design and performance, thus helping to reduce time to market of products. The SGI Reality Center system at Ford integrates an SGI® Onyx® 3000 series visualization system with three InfiniteReality3(TM) graphics pipes, eight 64-bit processors and three high-brightness digital projectors, letting teams of up to 30 people collaborate on the design process in an immersive stereo viewing environment. Working closely with Ford to address its specific requirement for multiteam design reviews, SGI Professional Services designed the turnkey Reality Center solution to seamlessly generate virtual models in real time from 3D design applications, video, digital images and other data sources. Fakespace Systems (Kitchener, Ontario) provided an 8-foot-high by 24-foot- wide edge-blended flat wall display system for the Reality Center facility. This stereoscopic WorkWall(TM) enables true three-dimensional viewing of large-scale computer-generated models. With the powerful capabilities of the SGI Reality Center system, teams will now be able to: Conduct appearance reviews more efficiently Perform digital assembly reviews to assess parts' fit and function Collaborate on marketing strategy even as designs are under development, thus reducing planning time Reduce the need for more costly and time-consuming physical models Improve efficiency and effectiveness through collaboration between different discipline experts in an immersive environment "Ford's selection of SGI technology validates our core strengths in high- performance computing and large-data visualization," said Dr. Eng Lim Goh, chief technology officer, SGI. "Our long-standing relationships with companies such as Ford, a valued customer of nearly 15 years, allow us to develop practical solutions that contribute to give customers the power to innovate. The goal is to arrive at better or faster decisions."

	eXtreme 3D System from X3D Technologies Wins "Best of Show" at Internet World Fall 2002
3D-News Posted: Friday, October 4, 2002 (15:27 UTC) | Posted By: Webmaster
In a major endorsement of its technology, the eXtreme 3D System from X3D Technologies received the "Best of Show" award yesterday at Internet World Fall 2002. The award is given to the product judged to be the most noteworthy out of all the innovations represented on the show floor. Winners are chosen by an expert panel of Internet World magazine editors. "The Internet World show is renowned throughout the industry as the event where the most cutting-edge Internet technologies are unveiled," said Elliot Klein, CEO X3D. "To be singled out among the many other innovative technologies is both an honor and a strong endorsement of the eXtreme 3D System." X3D Technologies won in the entertainment category for its eXtreme 3D System, which can change two-dimensional Internet and video content into 3D content "on the fly." Packaged to include X3D Gateway Software, the X3D system delivers a more realistic and powerful visual experience to video games and the Internet. X3D (eXtreme Three Dimensional) images appear to float in space, inside and in front of the computer screen, providing an immersive user experience. The technology has a broad range of uses, including entertainment, gaming, education and business. X3D applications run the gamut from video games that create 3D fantasy worlds to eCommerce solutions that leverage the IBM WebSphere platform to present products as they are seen in the showroom. For more information, go to www.3dworld.com.

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