Stereographics on SGI systems.

From Nekochan

Stereographics is a process whereby the image in the left eye differs from the right eye giving a sharp image of extrodinary depth.

SGI workstations including Indy and Octane include a connector near or on the graphics card with the small image of a pair of shutter glasses next to it. This connector is used to connect to a box which generates synchronisation signals. There are two main types. One is DB9 and the other is mini DIN. The box generates synchronisation signals and the glasses alternate displaying images in each eye. This disparitity of information causes the frontal area of the brain to post process the information into something that can be seen in those movies with the red/blue glasses or the books of dots which people people squint at.

Crystal Eyes are a common shutter glasses and give an effect that can be more stable a look more solid than anaglyphs of the movies like Jaws3D or the SIRDS of books like the Magic Eye.

How to display

Once the cables are connected run the command: xsetmon

Look for a mode which has "s" at the end of it. In the server tab, check that this mode has Sync Source set to External and the Sync Voltage to TTL.. Click the load button.

Run a Stereographic capable program.

OpenInventor will display a pop up menu by right clicking in the view area, choose "Preferences" and then click the Stereo check box.The space station example gives reasonable effects /usr/share/data/models/vehicles/spacestation.iv Navigate to this file from the desktop and launch it.

Choose the hand tool and spin the image so that it has some aspect rotatinng to and from the viewer. Dolly the image close to the viewer.The image displayed without the glasses should look ghosted as both data sets are being presented to both eyes. Put the glasses on and enjoy the image. Done correctly it should pop out of the monitor by up to 30cm or half a foot as it rotates and be solid without ghosting.