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3D? Existing systems require goggles; either polarizing glasses (which give you the 3D effect through psychological effects arising from how the brain processes video and gives "priority" to the eye which receives more light) which gives you 3D only when pans and other movement is moving in the correct direction, or red/blue glasses, which screws with color perception and is often not very convincing (and practically unwatchable without the glasses), or through shutter goggles which are cumbersome, prone to breaking, and expensive - or prototype models which feature prismatic screens similar to 3D photos, which depend heavily on being on-axis with the screen (sit to the side, for example, you will only see one side of the prism). For 3D TV to become mainstream, there really needs to be a monumental leap forward in display design. There needs to be a holographic or similar solution which isn't confined to a narrow field of view, doesn't require goggles, and doesn't become unwatchable (or degrade at all) when viewed on a conventional receiver.

http://www.stereoscopy.com/faq/interference-filters.html

Guess you've never heard of Interference Filters? They have none of the problems you describe (except for requiring goggles.

Stereoscopy is a pretty active photography genre - I have a relative who has a large library of self created images. There are numerous websites devoted to it. http://www.stereoscopy.com/cameras/ is one example. At one end you can simply glue to cameras together bottom to bottom as someone mentioned, at the higher end there are dual lens cameras that use normal 35mm film and developing...you just need to mat them carefully. The images are very compelling - much more immersive than regular photos. The handheld viewers work OK - but for the real effect get a dual lens projector for the slides and some green & red glasses and watch the show on a wall size image.

At any rate, it has just become dead easy to tell if the dork who asks you out is Slashdot reader.

For those not lucky enough to own tons of these, or too cheap tp run to OfficeMax and grab 2 pieces of colored projector acetate, I present you with dirt cheap and free 3D glasses sources....

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4 -- (RC 912 being my favorite ones...)
5 -- (This lovely book has a set of glasses, and a REAL reason to own a pair...)

Just FYI, and in a similar vein, when Pathfinder landed in 1999 I made a page with stereo pairs of the landing area (using images from Viking). Some of the hills, craters, etc., are pretty breathtaking when viewed in 3-D. Pathfinder landing site in 3-D Some interesting views taking from the Pathfinder lander, in stereo are here. --B

This kind of a thing is nothing new. People have been taking stereoscopic photos for years. Actually the craze was back in the 50's. Most of the stereoscopic cameras you can still buy are mostly made in the 50's with a very few exceptions.

http://home.att.net/~drt-3d/toys/bogen/index.htm.

David Burder made a custom stereoscopic digital camera, but as far as I know, it's not really for sale.

The challenge for 3-D image display isn't blocking the "wrong" images from each eye, it's blocking the wrong images when they're displayed in the same space -- overlaid in a single frame. For that, you need colors (anaglyphic glasses), or polarizing filters (again, though, both images displayed in the same space), or lcd shutters (multiplexing the images in time, rather than in color or polarization). Or you can use a lenticular screen, that bends the images left or right and draws them in a series of interlaced vertical stripes.

I agree-- if these guys actually believe they've come up with something they're deluding themselves-- perhaps it's all a joke. Figure 4A says it all-- you don't need the glasses or cellophane at all to sit in front of a laptop with left right images-- you just have to "free view" the stereo to get your eyes to merge the images, the best this will do is to make it a little bit easier as the "wrong" image will be blacked out for each eye (presumably). You could do about the same by putting a piece of cardboard between your nose and the screen to try to block the images and force your eyes to free-view. If you have trouble free viewing, then get one of these: http://www.stereoscopy.com/reel3d/print-viewers.ht ml and dispense with the near-useless cellophane voodoo.

If you like 3D screens, you will like 3D stereoscopic cameras - stereoscopy.com and curtin.edu.au. Pretty cool stuff.

I want one of the cameras, myself.

Go look on eBay. Do a search on "stereo realist". Expect to pay about a hundred bucks.

I have one of these cameras. They work very well. You'll also need a film cutter, and a viewer, all available on eBay on a regular basis. The viewers are somewhat expensive. You'll need blank slide mounts, which can be obtained from here for $8.00 per hundred. These cameras use ordinary slide film -- I use professional Kodachrome, which gives fantastic results.

You'll also need to know how to use a manual camera, as these cameras are all from the 1950s, and have no built-in light meter. You have to set the exposure, f stop, and focus yourself, and you set them just like an ordinary camera.

Once you've taken 3D pictures, you'll never want to go back to "mono" photography again. The 3D effect is absolutely stunning. I took a picture of some kids playing in a water fountain, and when I got the film back, I was astonished when I saw that the water drops were suspended in mid air ... floating in full 3D!

Cool!

For digital stereophotography check out http://stereoscopy.com/3d-images/camera.html