75% growth

The heading's amazing growth figure is what InAvate reports based on DisplaySearch's findings for 3D stereoscopic displays to experience by 2018. Of course, as the research also explains, this means mostly consumer sales and 3D at home.

Planar's 3D Stereoscopic Monitors with patented StereoMirror technology are not meant for home, though. With double the resolution compared to the standard home solutions - HD or not - these monitors are meant for professionals. Some Planar staff have experimented playing console games utilising the added fun of the StereoMirror technology and apparently the effect has been huge: the legend tells that beers almost went untouched on a "boys' night in" doing the testing. But just for gaming these monitors prove a bit pricey still.

Who then can truly benefit from Planar's 3D Stereoscopic Monitors? Geospatial and medical professionals appreciate the high quality picture in tasks where absolute accuracy is needed. Have a read of Planar's latest ebook on the requirements of geospatial professionals for 3D stereoscopic monitors, released just now!

StereoMirror Aids in Reading Mammograms

With the recent debate over new medical guidelines for routine mammographies for women under the age of 50 who are not in a high risk group, women may become even more concerned about the accuracy involved with reading their imaging test results. Planar's StereoMirror 3D displays plays a pivitol role in reading stereoscopic digital mammography results in many clinics, hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country by aiding radiologist who are responsible for providing a quick, accurate diagnosis and assessment.

With the ability to see breast tissue in 3D, diagnosis tends to be more accurate and breast abnormalities are detected earlier than in standard tests. Viewing the image on a stereo display workstation allows a radiologist to see the internal structure of the breasts in 3D and provides an in-depth view of the breast, substantially reducing the limitations of standard mammography.

Available in several viewable sizes, Planar's StereoMirror displays SD1710, SD2220W and SD2620W can be used to significantly improve the image radiologists are viewing when reading mammograms.

Let us know what you think about 3D mammography vs standard mammography screening.

It's Not Just a Simple Etch-A-Sketch Anymore!

Remember when your Etch-A-Sketch toy was the first tool for the creative possibilities of drawings? Well, we've come a long way. The Sketch-3D system has been developed that is interactive, integrated software/hardware system that enables users to create their own anaglypic 3D drawings. How fun is that?

Now you can have a personal 3D experience where Sketch-3D can be scaled to work with any output device from large scale projection to plasma displays to an integrated LCD. Planar's StereoMirror displays also offer another option for 3D viewing. Check out the overview of stereoscopic technologies.

Since it can be tailored to fit a wide array of installation environments, how would you use this 3D Etch-A-Sketch?

Entry-level Priced Stereoscopic/3D Display

Are you looking for an entry-level priced stereoscopic display that provides high-quality WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) 3D stereoscopic images? Well, look no further than Planar's new SD2220W 22" stereoscopic/3D display. Just launched, the SD2220W complements Planar's StereoMirror product line and produces comfortable extended viewing ergonomics for multiple users.

When considering options for seeing in stereo, check out this overview of stereoscopic technologies, including a handy 3D display comparison grid. Whether you're needing a 3D display for your geospatial, oil & gas, simulation, medical or other application, the SD2220W offers flicker-free operation allowing extended stereo use with no discomfort.

What's important to you when considering a stereoscopic/3D display?

Planar & Beauty

New 3D stereo imaging application for Planar 3D stereo monitors with great potential!

Bona Forma had a Planar 3D stereoscopic monitor SD2020W in their booth at the “Beauty through Science 2009” conference in Stockholm on 11-13 June 2009 with their aesthetic surgery outcome simulation, prediction and optimization software.

Bona Forma is a high-tech enterprise with expertise in breast augmentation, cranio-maxillofacial surgery and design of bespoke implants. They offer a unique ability to predict and optimize the patient’s post-surgery appearance at the initial pre-surgery stage. They say they achieve accurate simulations by combining 3D scanning of the patient’s body with physical modeling of biological tissues. The simulations are further enhanced when being viewed using professional 3D stereo imaging equipment, such as SD2020W by Planar. Upcoming conferences, where Bona Forma's simulations can be viewed with Planar's 3D display are:

- 40th Annual Conference of the German Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: DGPRAEC 10-12 Sept 2009, Hannover, Germany

- 11th Congress of European Societies of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (European Section of IPRAS): ESPRAS 20-26 Sept 2009, Rhodes, Greece

In the picture you see Bona Forma’s stand at the conference in Stockholm.

Planar StereoMirror on Display at SIGGRAPH and GEOINT

Have you seen Planar's line of StereoMirror displays? Now you'll have a chance to see what all the talk is about during a demonstration that will answer your stereoscopic display questions about the viewing angle, resolution and image quality of these monitors. Planar will exhibit the SD2620W and the newest version, SD2220W, in booth #3627 at SIGGRAPH 2009 in New Orleans, LA, August 4-6 and again in booth #544 at GEOINT 2009 Symposium in San Antonio, TX, October 18-21.

StereoMirror technology enables an unprecedented level of stereo viewing comfort and there is no restrictive "sweet spot" for viewing stereo images or any need to work in a dimly-lit environment. The Stereoscopic displays make it easier for many professionals to do their job. Applications include geospatial and 3D for simulation and training, among others.

Do you use a stereoscopic display for your work? What features do you find most important?

StereoMirror Provides Best Real-Time Display

Have you ever tried to figure out how to get the best image quality for aerial photography product processing and triangulation of ortho photos? According to AeroTech Mapping Inc., Planar's 3D StereoMirror monitor provides an image that is almost as clear as the negative itself. They have three displays for triangulation and compilation, which is the process of collecting digital data from stereo photography for use in creating topographical maps. They use Datem Systems' Summit Evolution software and three P-3 analytical plotters.

With several StereoMirror monitors in their office, including an SD1710 and SD2020, AeroTech has doubled their production stations while using a fraction of the space compared to analytical plotters. Besides excellent image quality, AeroTech's technicians are able to use the stereo monitors for up to ten hours at a time with only a few breaks in between. The comfort level of Planar's StereoMirror monitors is very high.

Have you used a StereoMirror monitor for your mapping projects? How does it compare to the quality of analytical plotters?

Presidential 3D Vision

At the recent ASPRS show, Miguel Pelaz Puebla of GeoToolBox Ibérica S.L. shared a picture with us. The image shows the President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, trying a Planar StereoMirror stereoscopic display.

3D Goes Hollywood

Get out those awesome 3D viewing glasses! The 3D movie craze is alive and well at a theater near you. There are 30 movies that will soon be leaping off a screen near you, including the soon-to-be released Coraline.

Planar is expanding its StereoMirror display opportunities into the entertainment arena and looking at options in the post-production sector of the movie industry. The StereoMirror display can be used in real time on the movie set to allow the film director to review scenes in a 3D format as they are shot - just like the audience will view it at the theater!

Have you caught any of the newly released 3D movies? 3D movies are showing in an IMAX 3D cinema or REAL D cinema near you.

Tell us about your 3D movie, game and concert viewing experiences!

Nvidia & 3D Internet

GigaOm has an interesting post related to Nvidia's Nvision Conference. While the information isn't specifically about 3D/stereoscopic displays, it does show some other innovations for presenting information in a new way. Here's an excerpt.

Startups like Bumptop, which is creating a 3-D desktop interface that screams out for touch screens; Cooliris, developers of PicLens visual web site displays; and SpaceTime, which allows for viewing the web in 3-D (it’s like tabbed browsing taken to the next level) all are pushing what people call the 3-D Internet. Other firms such as SeeFront and Spatial View (a SeeFront licensee) enable 3-D displays.

http://gigaom.com/2008/08/25/nvidia-pushes-the-3-d-internet/