Friday, April 22, 2011

The 3D Scam?




This morning, a writer at ZDNet posted an article entitled The 3D Scam: Reject and Repeat . The author refers to the recent reintroduction of 3D movies, along with 3DTVs and 3D gaming systems, as a commercial ploy to convince consumers to pay more for marginal products. Is this really the case?

In fairness to the author, it is well recognized that many viewers have difficulty seeing or enjoying 3D entertainment, largely due to vision problems that can be detected and treated by an optometrist. Even among those who can "see" 3D, many are not able to fully appreciate the depth of the effect; a recent personal hobby in stereo photography has convinced me of this. Many acquaintances who view stereo photographs I have taken, when asked to reach out and "touch" certain objects in the photo while looking stereoscopically, place the virtual image much closer to the photograph than I do. What is the result? For these individuals, 3D loses much of its "wow" effect - the images just don't "jump out" at them the same way, and 3D technology doesn't carry the same value, monetarily or as entertainment.

My opinion on this all? There is no doubt that companies see the potential market for 3D entertainment as profitable - why else would they venture into it? But I, for one, perceive immense value in 3D displays - no 2D display, even of the highest quality, can carry the same effect that simulates the real world. It is one thing to watch football displayed on a flat surface, but quite another to perceive the hole in the defensive line nearly the same as the running back who rushes through it, or the immense length of a pass from the perspective of the receiver chasing it.

And as for the unbelievers and the unimpressed? Maybe they should have their eyes checked... if they could fully appreciate the depth of a good 3D scene, I'm convinced the scam theories would die down, and they would be as excited about this as the rest of us.


Dave

Friday, April 15, 2011

At-home screening test for 3D vision

Are you having trouble seeing 3D? Digital Life on MSNBC Today recently included an article written by Suzanne Kantra on an at-home screening examination for your 3D vision abilities (click here for the link to the article). 

The test requires only a piece of string and perhaps some optional beads. Although crude, the test describes the Brock string, one of the more classic tools used by optometrists in vision therapy for problems with converging or diverging the eyes. Of course, performing the test at home is not a substitution for a comprehensive eye exam by a licensed optometrist, but may be helpful as an initial indicator of your ability to view in 3D.

Regardless, any symptoms of headache, blur, eyestrain, or inability to see 3D entertainment should be addressed by a professional, who may be able to help you to appreciate 3D through either glasses or visual training. The VPI continues to be a leader in research in this particular area, discovering and publishing the best methods of detecting and treating computer and 3D vision disorders.

New study on dynamic visual acuity method opened by VPI


The Vision Performance Institute recently opened a new study for participant enrollment. The Dyops™ 2 study follows up an earlier study (Dyops™ 1) exploring the effectiveness of a new method of measuring visual acuity, developed by Allan Hytowitz in conjunction with the VPI. Dyops™ (short for "dynamic optotype") is a computer-based recognition acuity system that is unique in using motion (the segmented ring rotates) detection in the acuity measurement. 


Results from earlier studies indicate that the novel Dyops™ acuity system may offer a more accurate determination of acuity threshold than some conventional methods of measuring visual acuity. In addition, the Dyops™ system has the distinct advantage of avoiding language and educational barriers; the individual being tested needs only to identify whether or not the ring is moving - a helpful tool in increasingly culturally diverse clinical, school, and hospital settings.


If you are interested in learning more about the Dyops™ acuity system, please visit www.dyop.org.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Nintendo 3DS - Can it help detect eye problems?


Much ado has been made of Nintendo's warning issued several months ago regarding use of the new 3DS handheld gaming system by young children. The essence of the warning is that children under 6 years old should not use 3D mode on the 3DS, or risk potentially harming their developing visual system.

Eyecare experts across the country disagree, claiming that normal use of the 3DS should have no negative impact on visual development, even in the youngest children. In fact, Dr. Michael Duenas of the American Optometric Association feels the 3DS may actually help detect vision problems in children that frequently go undetected by pediatricians, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (small deviations in the direction an eye points). In older children and adults who experience eyestrain after use of 3D media, the 3DS could help identify more subtle vision problems like convergence insufficiency.

However, kids still shouldn't get carried away. Dr. Jim Sheedy, OD, PhD, of the Vision Performance Institute, says, “Is there a limit on how much a child should be viewing 3-D? Yeah. How much is it? I don’t know. Let’s use some sound judgment." 


Dr. Sheedy reminds parents that the top health concern with video gaming in kids is still obesity and physical inactivity.
“Kids should be out running around,” he said.