Planar 3D in the hunt for Alzheimer's?

Planar's 3D Stereoscopic monitors are used as a part of a vital race with time to help predict Alzheimer's disease early. See CBS's Health Specialist Kathy Walsh reporting from University of Colorado Denver with the images of Planar's 3D being used for vision testing to develop a test which will help in early detection of the disease thus helping the patient to live healthier and longer.

CBS on 30th September 2009: "Vision test could predict risk for Alzheimer's"

Yes, I could go on boasting about the wonderful multiuser capability, which can be seen on the clip and did you notice how the monitor could be used in the standard office lighting while not strictly staying on the "sweet spot" and still get the benefits of a 3D image...? But no, I think I will use this space and chance to spread the awareness of the disease.

Early detection is the key, so be sure to know the sympthoms of Alzheimer's and to spot them on your loved ones - if not yourself - to get early treatment. According to University of Colorado Denver, they hope to have the test ready in about 4 years... That's a long time with Alzheimer's!

Look for more information on Alzheimer's and local contacts from the following organisations:

• Alzheimer's Society in the UK.
• Muistiliitto Ry in Finland in Finnish, Swedish and English.
• Alzheimer's Association in the US with information in Spanish and Chinese included.
• Société Alzheimer Society in Canada with information in English and French.

See also Alzheimer's awareness advertisements on AdFreak's blog entry. There are a French and a British version - which one is your "favourite" and sticks in your mind better?

3D cinema

Do I even have to mention it: 3D cinema is here to stay. As one of the topics on the previous blog post about 3D content, here is a wider exploration on 3D cinema.

Here in Finland the new era of 3D cinema started a bit over a year ago with footage from U2's previous world tour with a film called U23D and the visually magnificent Journey to the Center of the Earth (click here to see the trailer). Currently Up 3D entertains the younger audiences in about 20 cinemas where 3D viewing is available in Finland - that might not sound like much to you but it's more than in any other Nordic country, so it makes us Finns very proud!

3D cinema is a topical issue, see e.g. how Kevin Smith discusses 3D cinema on YouTube. Topical, yes, even if the whole thing was already invented in the 50's: the firstever 3D film was Bwana Devil in 1952. Back then the idea also was that 3D would come and save the cinema. Sounds familiar, eh? With DVD's and Blu-Ray's and home cinema equipment turning out ever more popular and the technologies used becoming more advanced, the cinema needs something "new" to attract the crowds to enjoy the BIG screen. Is 3D the answer?

Planar's 3D products are originally designed for use by professionals in photogrammetry and for geospatial applications. Read more about the 3D monitors, which Planar offers and which could be useful in post production stages of creating 3D cinema.

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?

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?

StereoMirror Used For Aerial Surveys

Providing accurate 3D photogrammetric mapping is complicated and photogrammetrists are always looking for monitors that will improve their viewing experiences and aid in verifying data. Planar's StereoMirror SD2420W with Planar's PX 2411W has been used by Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. to suit their needs moving into a complete digital workflow and provide better image quality.

In verifying the accuracy of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) used in their orthophoto production process, Keystone's team was able to confirm that the data was "correct" and then, if needed, correct any problem areas quickly and effectively using a StereoMirror. They use Inpho DTMaster and 3D Stealth mouse. The SD2420W widescreen allows each user to view a much larger area without sacrificing the desired image magnification extent which is helpful when working with multiple users.

Are you a photogrammetrist? What stereoscopic viewing features would be beneficial for your work?

StereoMirror at NAB

Planar showed footage from the 3D movie, Coraline (http://coraline.com/), produced by LAIKA (http://www.laika.com/) at the recent NAB convention held in Las Vegas.

Folks watched the opening scene of Coraline’s family moving into their Pink Palace Apartment and the amazing mouse circus scene that took place in “the other world.” The content was shown using “RV” image and sequence viewer from Tweak Software (http://www.tweakfilms.com/). The StereoMirror technology is an excellent tool for 3D modeling, stereoscopic photography and 3D post production work, among other applications.

What movies do you think would be "other worldly" in 3D? Do you have an application need for a stereo 3D 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!

3D Football

Looks like 3ality Digital is working hard again to make 3D media production a little more mainstream. First it was the U2 concert, now the NFL. The Wall Street Journal covers the proof of concept production. Here's an excerpt.

"The several hundred guests at the three participating theaters Dec. 4 will include representatives from the NFL's broadcasting partners and from consumer-electronics companies. The event will be closed to the general public. Burbank, Calif.-based 3ality Digital LLC will shoot the game with special cameras and transmit it to a satellite. Thomson SA's Technicolor Digital Cinema is providing the satellite services and digital downlink to each theater, and Real D 3D Inc. will power the display in the theaters."

Image source: 3ality Digital.

What other types of media would work well in 3D?

StereoMirror and Planetary Research

Planar's StereoMirror is being used at the Carl Sagan Center at SETI Institute to perform planetary surface characteristics research. StereoMirror Case Study: Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute provides details about how the SD2420W stereoscopic monitor is helping researchers like Dr. Ross Beyer with remote sensing and geographical modeling of Mars and other terrestrial planets.

After discussions with his colleagues about the best approach to view stereoscopic images, Dr. Beyer was told that the Planar StereoMirror was working out well for many in his field. So, what was his impression with the SD2420W StereoMirror technology? "It is excellent. The images are presented clearly and crisply, and alignment is trivial. The monitors can be used for reasonable periods without eye fatigue, which I am told is problematical with the older stereo display technologies." says Dr. Beyer.

3D is expected to take 9.2% of the total display market by 2015

Display Bank recent release an interesting forecast of the 3D display market. It looks pretty comprehensive. Here's an excerpt.

The biggest issue in 3D display is to develop super high resolution display to offer real sensation and resolve visual fatigue which occurs when observing the display for a long period of time. Specially, 3D display TV market is expected to radically expand when digital broadcasting is imported to generalize HD and Full HD grade TV's and when the resolution and visual fatigue issues are resolved. The 3D display market is likely to further develop through various 3D contents development and 3D standardization.

 You can also order the full report which includes coverage of various 3D/stereoscopic technologies.