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From: hyc@math.lsa.umich.edu (Howard Chu)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.misc,comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac,alt.cyberpunk
Subject: Re: replacing the desktop metaphor
Keywords: desktop metaphor, graphical interfaces, computing environments
Message-ID: <525@stag.math.lsa.umich.edu>
Date: 27 Dec 88 06:31:05 GMT
References: <4362@pitt.UUCP> <257@gloom.UUCP> <5486@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <1116@netxcom.UUCP>
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In article <1116@netxcom.UUCP> ewiles@netxcom.UUCP (Edwin Wiles) writes:
%In article <5486@boulder.Colorado.EDU> hassell@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Christopher Hassell) writes:
%>In article <257@gloom.UUCP> cory@gloom.UUCP (Cory Kempf) writes:
%>#
%>#What I would like to see is the desktop metaphor extended into 3D, say
%>
%>I have heard about a VERY interesting though likely to fail new method of 
%>3-d displays.  It basically is like a crt except that a mirror *vibrates*
%[Edited...]
%>Any other Cheap <read Practical> ideas [Until Holograms can be dynamically 
%>   projected]?
%>### C.H. ###
%
%Yes.  Design your graphical interface to alternate rapidly between two
%perspective images of the same object.  Interface that with a special pair
%of glasses whos lenses are made of a rapid acting LCD material.  Set the
%glasses so that the lenses alternate clear/dark in synch with the display.
%
%The result of this is that your eyes each see only the perspective view
%appropriate for that eye, and persistence of vision causes you to see
%it in full color 3-D.  (None of this red/green junk!)
%
%Such glasses and graphics already exist.  They are being used in at least
%one video game (some sort of driving game); and are available on the open
%market (not sure who from, check with comp.sys.amiga, since that's where
%I saw it mentioned most recently).  I've also seen at least one NOVA program
%that talked about them (computer graphics).
%					Enjoy!

Those are StereoTek glasses; I was going to get a pair for my Atari ST.
I've seen a few games written for them, and I think the Cyber line of
3D CAD/animation software supports them as well. Tom Hudson, a well-known
(in the Atari world, at least!) graphics programmer just recently had a
3D Life game he wrote published in ST-Log. This program also supported
both perspective views and StereoTek 3D rendering. For such a simple thing,
the appeal of Life is surprising. It becomes even more engrossing when
you add the third dimension...

The glasses work pretty well; the disadvantage is that each pair must
be attached to the host computer to allow for synchronization of the
imaging and the LCD shutter switching. Not bad for just 1 person working
on an involved project, but a hassle when trying to show your work to
a group of other people...

A simpler method might have worked better - recent 3D movies used polarized
light/glassses combos, which seemed to work well enough. At least the viewing
hardware (2 pieces of plastic with polarized coatings) is simple. I suppose
generating the proper image on the display becomes more difficult, though...
--
  /
 /_ , ,_.                      Howard Chu
/ /(_/(__                University of Michigan
    /           Computing Center          College of LS&A
   '              Unix Project          Information Systems