3D wool over your eyes, the Health factor...

With the Current level of technology I was tempted to seriously think about my next Camera format, would be in 3D. A decision which I would think would carry me on to some next level viewing for a possible YouTube channel. I pretty much have my mind set on buying the Sony TD 10 with its ability to recording High Definition simultaneously side by side, which added to a 3D system gives you Depth perception.
It seems like the next thing to do as I wanted to make 3d amateur videos, but I had a sneaking suspicion about 3D.

While reading up on other issues for my blog I still wanted to find out about 3D and what they don't tell you.

Behind the big fancy screens and the crazy camera views that exploit the 3D effect, I wanted to see why 3D is slow to progress. Im my own experience I wanted to capture the magic of being fooled into a extra dimension, and poke my fingers toward the screen to test the 3D factor. Buying a Nvidia 3D vision kit and 120hz screen with a decent enough video card I thought it would be an excellent introduction to the world of 3D. It works out better as I can watch films and play games with the illusion of 3D.

Later when I saw YouTube with HTML 5 with the compatibility of Nvidia, I can have more content with the opportunity of posting more. But there was warning signs The fact that ever since the start of Anaglyph style films in the 50's to todays polarized cinema releases and Blue-ray side by side formats. things have been up and down in popularity. Most people will say its a fad but unsure why it lingers and re-invents it self to a modern format. Game console like Nintendo 3DS had a disappointing start, it could be many factors like it was much more expensive then a DS or that smart phone games seemed more popular. Along with those theories was a popular, remark that most buyers would say about the machine. It would cause headaches and eye strain when playing the game in 3D mode.

cinema goers when first seeing a 3D film would complain of headaches or nausea. 5% of people have extreme version of Binocular vision dysfunction while 30% of people have a mild version. Binocular vision dysfunction is the inability to move your eyes together, especially in the function of calculating depth.
The two pictures you see simultaneously at a cinema will make the eyes see each picture separately and not as one, because there is no focal point. Instead, the veiwer is focusing on the screen and people with Binocular vision dysfunction will find it much harder to coordinate both the eyes to a specific spot. Having to constantly correcting your eyes to an imaginary area, would give the feeling of nausea.

Binocular vision Dysfunction comes in four different verities.
Accomdatedtive disorder: The inability for the eyes to focus, the eyes must be able to sustain focus for long periods.
convergence disorders: The inability to use both eyes as a team when looking at something close up. When looking at near object, both eye should turn in wards and maintain single vision.
Divergence disorders: The inability to use both eyes as a team when looking at something in the distance.
Oculomotor disorders: The inability to quickly and accurately move both eyes, these are sensory motor skills that allow us to move our eyes so that we can fixate on objects. Also the ability to track moving objects  quickly and smoothly.

The most common fault is Convergence and Accommodation, which seems to relate to the inability to focus on screen from mid to up close distances. This might explain why Nintendos 3DS screens causes migraines in people. I am not sure knowing this type of dysfunction if its worth investing money into 3D when clearly people who have headaches watching them. I would point out this "lazy eye" symptom that clashes your ability to watch 3D is a good indicator that there maybe a problem with your eyes. If diagnosed correctly and early, with the help of therapy you will be able train your eyes for 3D movies. Binocular vision dysfunction is often linked to lapse in concentration especially from school children. It may explain lack of enthusiasm in sports with poor hand eye coordination.


Reading up on Health factors made me realize that 3D seems more like a fad and I shouldn't get into the hype of buying the more expensive tickets at the cinema. Granted you are more immersed with the film, when watching. But I get the same immersion feeling at home on a comfortable sofa without extra audience noise.
The feeling of being there with High definition is good enough, the next big thing isn't 3D but Holographic TV with real focus points and no headaches. 3D maybe just diagnostic tool to see if your kids have "Lazy Eye" syndrome.  Either way save your money  and wait for something better, or better still give it to charity...