Duel Monitor Setup with Stereoscopic Viewer?
Hi,

I'm pretty new to this, but youthful energy is hard at work...

I was a little dissapointed with the shutter glasses approach, simply because I want something that I can watch on my big screen television - a projector may be the only way though.

Basically, there's a stereoscopic viewer that just uses prisms to combine a left and right image into one image. You can find it here for $40: [url="http://www.pokescope.com/"]http://www.pokescope.com/[/url]

Obviously, this is a handheld unit, but with a little tinkering, one could strap in on the forehead.

So what I'm thinking is (and I may even buy one of these cute pokescopes just because of how adorable they are), one could wear one of these around the head and look into a dual monitor setup like some are doing with mirrors. No ghosting, no tinkering with a mirror that's just asking to be broken...just an old early 20th century idea with a spin.

They say on the site that the user doesn't have to be completely perpendicular with the images, though getting the head in the right position may still be a bit of a pain. But hey, if it works, and there's no need for a mirror, then there's no need to open up your CRT - no flipping would be required.

I don't know if I'm really into this enough to spend any more money, though. If anyone's interested in my testing this, please LMK. I may not be able to get games to run this way on the big screen, but side-by-side stereo movies would be fantastic. That's what I'm really after here, anyway - the out-of-screen objects in 3d dvds are fantastic when you can view them from far enough away.

Anyway, it would be quite satisfying at this point for me to just return my shutter glasses. Any thoughts?
Hi,



I'm pretty new to this, but youthful energy is hard at work...



I was a little dissapointed with the shutter glasses approach, simply because I want something that I can watch on my big screen television - a projector may be the only way though.



Basically, there's a stereoscopic viewer that just uses prisms to combine a left and right image into one image. You can find it here for $40: http://www.pokescope.com/



Obviously, this is a handheld unit, but with a little tinkering, one could strap in on the forehead.



So what I'm thinking is (and I may even buy one of these cute pokescopes just because of how adorable they are), one could wear one of these around the head and look into a dual monitor setup like some are doing with mirrors. No ghosting, no tinkering with a mirror that's just asking to be broken...just an old early 20th century idea with a spin.



They say on the site that the user doesn't have to be completely perpendicular with the images, though getting the head in the right position may still be a bit of a pain. But hey, if it works, and there's no need for a mirror, then there's no need to open up your CRT - no flipping would be required.



I don't know if I'm really into this enough to spend any more money, though. If anyone's interested in my testing this, please LMK. I may not be able to get games to run this way on the big screen, but side-by-side stereo movies would be fantastic. That's what I'm really after here, anyway - the out-of-screen objects in 3d dvds are fantastic when you can view them from far enough away.



Anyway, it would be quite satisfying at this point for me to just return my shutter glasses. Any thoughts?

#1
Posted 07/24/2005 09:22 AM   
That would be 'Dual Monitors', not the kind where they battle each other. I can spell, I really can.
That would be 'Dual Monitors', not the kind where they battle each other. I can spell, I really can.

#2
Posted 07/24/2005 01:16 PM   
If your goal is to view pictures on a single monitor, the pokescope may be right for you. However, if you want to play video games in 3D, it won't work. As of yet, nVidia doesn't let you have the right and left images seperated on on a single screen. You can use seperate screens of any kind provided the pokescope's field of view is that large, which I doubt, but perhaps you can tweak it. You also might want to mount it to an adjustable stand (like a boom microphone stand) instead of your head. Then minor head movement won't be distracting.

If you want to do the dual-monitor-single-first-surface-mirror approach, rewiring a CRT isn't hard, especially if you can find the service manual online. After I found it, the whole process only took an hour and having the horizontal deflection circuit reversed does not harm the monitor. However, you do risk electric shock, so perhaps buying a pair of Sharp AQUOS displays would be better. They have a picture flip mode in their OSD, no rewiring required (please post if you know of another brand with this feature). However, the resolution of the smaller units is 1368x768 (a custom res you'll have to create with the nVidia driver, not difficult). This resolution might be a little low for non-gaming purposes, but maybe not. If you want a higher resolution, I think the 45-inch model [HUGE!] is the smallest with 1920x1080p. You'll need a beefy computer to run higher-end games in that resolution in 3D.

I wish nVidia would have a dual-monitor-with-flipped-right-view 3D mode. Then any matched pair of monitors would work fine with no rewiring. Sigh.

Personally, right now I'm stuck between the idea of buying a pair of AQUOS displays and using my mirror, or getting the Z800 HMD. The DepthQ projector is also an option but too expensive and space-consuming at this point. I would be giving up the resolution and the widesceeen of dual-monitor, but gaining headtracking and low-space-usage if I chose the Z800. My 21" CRTs were AWESOME, but I have recently become concerned about sitting so close to my monitors and getting eyestrain over time - so I need a solution that allows me to focus on things at least 4 or 5 feet away instead of 2 or 3 feet like I have been.
If your goal is to view pictures on a single monitor, the pokescope may be right for you. However, if you want to play video games in 3D, it won't work. As of yet, nVidia doesn't let you have the right and left images seperated on on a single screen. You can use seperate screens of any kind provided the pokescope's field of view is that large, which I doubt, but perhaps you can tweak it. You also might want to mount it to an adjustable stand (like a boom microphone stand) instead of your head. Then minor head movement won't be distracting.



If you want to do the dual-monitor-single-first-surface-mirror approach, rewiring a CRT isn't hard, especially if you can find the service manual online. After I found it, the whole process only took an hour and having the horizontal deflection circuit reversed does not harm the monitor. However, you do risk electric shock, so perhaps buying a pair of Sharp AQUOS displays would be better. They have a picture flip mode in their OSD, no rewiring required (please post if you know of another brand with this feature). However, the resolution of the smaller units is 1368x768 (a custom res you'll have to create with the nVidia driver, not difficult). This resolution might be a little low for non-gaming purposes, but maybe not. If you want a higher resolution, I think the 45-inch model [HUGE!] is the smallest with 1920x1080p. You'll need a beefy computer to run higher-end games in that resolution in 3D.



I wish nVidia would have a dual-monitor-with-flipped-right-view 3D mode. Then any matched pair of monitors would work fine with no rewiring. Sigh.



Personally, right now I'm stuck between the idea of buying a pair of AQUOS displays and using my mirror, or getting the Z800 HMD. The DepthQ projector is also an option but too expensive and space-consuming at this point. I would be giving up the resolution and the widesceeen of dual-monitor, but gaining headtracking and low-space-usage if I chose the Z800. My 21" CRTs were AWESOME, but I have recently become concerned about sitting so close to my monitors and getting eyestrain over time - so I need a solution that allows me to focus on things at least 4 or 5 feet away instead of 2 or 3 feet like I have been.

#3
Posted 07/25/2005 07:32 PM   
That's a good idea with the boom stand (especially since I have one) so thanks for that. I've ordered the pokescope, so it won't be long before I can post results. I think I'll probably have to view the two monitors from about 4 or 5 feet away.

I had considered pretty much all of the options, but it certainly feels like to get something good, you've got to give something else up - no matter how it's approached. Even the Sharp 3D displays, which I've seen in action, get pretty blurry with fast motion and it's more like looking through a window than having anything pop out.

With money being pretty tight for me right now, the dual monitors seems like the best option, with or without the mirror.

Thanks for the reply. It's always promising to get feedback if you're a nube.
That's a good idea with the boom stand (especially since I have one) so thanks for that. I've ordered the pokescope, so it won't be long before I can post results. I think I'll probably have to view the two monitors from about 4 or 5 feet away.



I had considered pretty much all of the options, but it certainly feels like to get something good, you've got to give something else up - no matter how it's approached. Even the Sharp 3D displays, which I've seen in action, get pretty blurry with fast motion and it's more like looking through a window than having anything pop out.



With money being pretty tight for me right now, the dual monitors seems like the best option, with or without the mirror.



Thanks for the reply. It's always promising to get feedback if you're a nube.

#4
Posted 07/26/2005 04:30 AM   
[quote name='it_ninja' date='Jul 25 2005, 09:30 PM']Even the Sharp 3D displays, which I've seen in action, get pretty blurry with fast motion and it's more like looking through a window than having anything pop out.
[right][post="43783"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

It seems you thought I was talking about a Sharp 3D display, but I'm talking about the Sharp AQUOS displays which are regular HDTVs, not originally intended for 3D. However, they have a "picture flip" option in their OSD which would allow you to flip the image of one of them and use the single-mirror-dual-monitor solution with them. Of course, these displays aren't very cheap, but are getting cheaper every day :) .

You are welcome for the feedback.
[quote name='it_ninja' date='Jul 25 2005, 09:30 PM']Even the Sharp 3D displays, which I've seen in action, get pretty blurry with fast motion and it's more like looking through a window than having anything pop out.

[post="43783"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]




It seems you thought I was talking about a Sharp 3D display, but I'm talking about the Sharp AQUOS displays which are regular HDTVs, not originally intended for 3D. However, they have a "picture flip" option in their OSD which would allow you to flip the image of one of them and use the single-mirror-dual-monitor solution with them. Of course, these displays aren't very cheap, but are getting cheaper every day :) .



You are welcome for the feedback.

#5
Posted 07/27/2005 04:53 AM   
I just got the pokescope in the mail. I haven't had a chance to test on two monitors yet, but I opened up "Encounter in the Third Dimension", a 3d DVD movie, in Stereoscopic Player and set it to play both the left and right images next to each other (with a lot of top and bottom border space, since it has to display two 4:3 images on one 4:3 display).

I have to say, I was pretty impressed just by the initial testing. The pokecope gives a pretty good level of control to cancel out images to the left and right of the 3d image (since basically it's doing the job of crossing your eyes, three images can be seen - a left image, a 3d image in the middle, and a right image).

I've got a Microsoft Certification exam tomorrow, so I won't have a lot of time to set things up, but I'll post images when everything's good to go.

Also, the pokescope has to be adjusted if your head moves, but you don't have to be completely perpendicular to the monitor.

I think this setup may be good enough to replace my shutters. But I'll have to do some more testing first.
I just got the pokescope in the mail. I haven't had a chance to test on two monitors yet, but I opened up "Encounter in the Third Dimension", a 3d DVD movie, in Stereoscopic Player and set it to play both the left and right images next to each other (with a lot of top and bottom border space, since it has to display two 4:3 images on one 4:3 display).



I have to say, I was pretty impressed just by the initial testing. The pokecope gives a pretty good level of control to cancel out images to the left and right of the 3d image (since basically it's doing the job of crossing your eyes, three images can be seen - a left image, a 3d image in the middle, and a right image).



I've got a Microsoft Certification exam tomorrow, so I won't have a lot of time to set things up, but I'll post images when everything's good to go.



Also, the pokescope has to be adjusted if your head moves, but you don't have to be completely perpendicular to the monitor.



I think this setup may be good enough to replace my shutters. But I'll have to do some more testing first.

#6
Posted 07/29/2005 04:07 AM   
Good luck with the exam and keep us posted. This is an interesting method.
Good luck with the exam and keep us posted. This is an interesting method.

It better be.

#7
Posted 07/29/2005 07:18 AM   
I got a 700 with a passing score of 700. Which makes me a MS Certified VB.NET Windows developer. Phew....

Anyways, I got a little time to hook up two monitors to a dual 15" setup, and unfortunately it doesn't look like this is going to work. The Pokescope requires the viewer to be way to far back to see both images. Otherwise, you have to start forcing your eyes to cross to see the image. I had to sit back about seven feet to be able to get it to work.

But at least we know that a stereoscopic viewer that is made for print and monitor viewing of images really can't be pushed passed its original intended limites.

From here I guess I'll find a mirror and open up my CRT. At least until I can afford something like the Z800.
I got a 700 with a passing score of 700. Which makes me a MS Certified VB.NET Windows developer. Phew....



Anyways, I got a little time to hook up two monitors to a dual 15" setup, and unfortunately it doesn't look like this is going to work. The Pokescope requires the viewer to be way to far back to see both images. Otherwise, you have to start forcing your eyes to cross to see the image. I had to sit back about seven feet to be able to get it to work.



But at least we know that a stereoscopic viewer that is made for print and monitor viewing of images really can't be pushed passed its original intended limites.



From here I guess I'll find a mirror and open up my CRT. At least until I can afford something like the Z800.

#8
Posted 07/29/2005 07:41 PM   
Gian, look at LG LCD 19inch monitors 1980 and 1981, they have up-down mirroring build ;) it can be good for up-down setup described in semi-trans. mirror topic, im thinking about doing it. Z800 have only 800x600 res, haven't play in that res for ages, here crispy 1280x1024...
Gian, look at LG LCD 19inch monitors 1980 and 1981, they have up-down mirroring build ;) it can be good for up-down setup described in semi-trans. mirror topic, im thinking about doing it. Z800 have only 800x600 res, haven't play in that res for ages, here crispy 1280x1024...

#9
Posted 08/04/2005 10:30 AM   
Scroll To Top