Don’t Miss an Encore Performance of the StereoMirror™Monitor at Siggraph
MENLO PARK CA, July 31, 2005. If you missed experiencing the StereoMirror Monitor at the E3, SID, or GDC shows over the last few months ago, you have another chance to evaluate its breakthrough performance at Siggraph. Both gaming and professional applications with be demonstrated. Look for it in the 3D Consortiium booth #1354.
The 1.3 MPixel desktop StereoMirror™ monitor combines left and right images from two standard AMLCD monitors into a dazzling 3D stereo display with no compromises. The bright, full color video rate display has a wide viewing angle and does not suffer from the jaggies and limited viewing cones of lenticular solutions. Gone are the days of shutterglasses. With this display, all you need are a pair of inexpensive passive polarized glasses.
The latest generation of nVidia dual output video cards does most of the processing and interface work. Building on its decade long commitment to stereo, the nVidia firmware and software make plug and play stereo 3D professional applications and gaming a reality. The proprietary firmware synchronously feeds left and right eye views to the graphics card outputs. Dave Cook, nVidia’s stereo hardware pioneer, commented, “We are on the doorstep to mass market acceptance of stereo gaming. In combination, the quality of 3D game rendering, the graphics interface, and the quality and affordability of these latest displays should delight even the most discerning users.”
Conference-goers at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) got a glimpse of the future and a chance to have Electronic Arts demo The SIMS 2 in stereoscopic 3D without the need for VR goggles or expensive glasses. Users were wowed by the image quality and reality of the high definition, full color, full frame rate video stereo 3D images.
Electronic Arts’ The SIMS 2 was greatly enhanced through the addition of real depth. Players felt immersed like never before in the hyper-real world their Sims inhabited. One attendee Frank Whelan remarked “It’s crazy, I feel like I’m right there beside them, living in their world with them.” With stereo, the player felt like they were really part of the story and not just at a computer terminal in a conference hall in LA.
The StereoMirror monitor offers a path to better and cheaper 3D desktops, riding on the cost-performance improvement trends of the generic LCD monitors. Pat Green, StereoMirror program manager at Planar Systems, sees real potential for stereo gaming. “During the past year, our StereoMirror monitor have been widely accepted in professional stereo markets by researchers and professionals. We are now preparing to launch consumer models for gaming”.
The StereoMirror monitor is based on technology developed and patented by Dr. James L. Fergason. Sam McMullen, evangelist for gaming at Fergason Patent Properties, forsees stereo 3D viewing having a major impact on future gaming. “It’s all about immersion”, Sam reports. “Our evaluations indicate that gamers really feel part of the action with high quality stereo. The driving, shooter, and simulation genres are most impacted and when you talk about games like the SIMS 2, you really need to be part of the story, to be fully immersed, only then does the game take on a whole new meaning”.
Look for another round of demos at the upcoming Siggraph Conference.
About nVidia
NVIDIA Corporation is a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors. The Company’s products enhance the end-user experience on consumer and professional computing devices. NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs), media and communications processors (MCPs), and wireless media processors (WMPs) have broad market reach and are incorporated into a variety of platforms, including consumer and enterprise PCs, notebooks, workstations, PDAs, mobile phones, and video game consoles. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and employs more than 2,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at www.nvidia.com.
About Planar
Planar Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLNR) is one of the world's most accomplished providers of flat-panel displays with more than 20 years expertise in flat-panel innovation. The company provides the most dependable display solutions for demanding applications in industrial, medical, commercial, retail and hospitality markets. Planar's customers depend on its award-winning displays in mission-critical moments, from making split-second medical decisions to catching late-breaking headlines. Founded in 1983, Planar is a global company with headquarters in Oregon. For more information, please visit www.planar.com.
About Fergason Patent Properties (FPP)
FPP is an IP licensing company founded by Dr. James L. Fergason, who assigned a portfolio of more than 35 patents to the company. The company maximizes the value of the FPP patent portfolio to licensees by providing technical support services and creating or acquiring related and synergistic intellectual property including Trademarks and Copyrights. In addition to the StereoMirror™ 3D monitor program, FPP is actively developing licensees for its SSBC contrast enhancement technology and RetroVue™ out-the-window-view head mounted projector for use in simulators. For more information, see www.fergasonpatents.com.
