gt4662b@prism.gatech.EDU (BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN) (01/09/90)
I heard a rumor that the new version of Turbo Silver will support not only ray-traced animations for the X-Specs glasses, but also the Sega video game systems 3d glasses. Does anyone know if they are essentially the same? I looked at a pair of the Sega glasses. They use a simple LCD to block one lense at a time. The input to the glasses is a stereo headphone-type jack- which leads me to think that they are controlled by software to blink. (One power line for each of the LCD's and a ground.) To me, this says that they could possibly be hooked up to the parallel port. Note #2: Sega 3-d glasses are being carried by a local KayBee Toy & Hobby for $40. I'm pretty sure that this is cheaper than the X-Specs, so the idea is probably worth looking into. My questions are: 1) How do the X-Specs hook to the Amiga? 2) Does anyone know how the Sega glasses hook up? -- BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 "I know my familiar is a vampire duck, just don't mess with it." Internet: gt4662b@prism.gatech.edu
hrlaser@sactoh0.UUCP (Harv R. Laser) (01/10/90)
In article <4668@hydra.gatech.EDU>, gt4662b@prism.gatech.EDU (BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN) writes: > I heard a rumor that the new version of Turbo Silver will support not only No rumor here. Turbo Silver SV ("Stereo Vision") has been shipping for a few months now. You don't get it when you buy Turbo Silver from a dealer (for some reason I don't quite understand). You have to upgrade to it for about $30 directly from Impulse. > ray-traced animations for the X-Specs glasses, but also the Sega video game > systems 3d glasses. Does anyone know if they are essentially the same? > The Sega glasses and Haitex X-Specs are functionally identical. Outwardly, the Segas project more of a "Joe Cool" image instead of the X-Spec's "Nerd from Mars" appearance ;-) > I looked at a pair of the Sega glasses. They use a simple LCD to block one > lense at a time. The input to the glasses is a stereo headphone-type jack- > which leads me to think that they are controlled by software to blink. (One > power line for each of the LCD's and a ground.) To me, this says that they > could possibly be hooked up to the parallel port. > Possibly, but me no hardware smart boy so I have no idea. However, for $49.95 Impulse also sells a Sega Glasses -> Amiga Mouse Port #2 interface box. Plug the Segas into the box, plug the box into Mouse Port #2 and you're in business. > Note #2: Sega 3-d glasses are being carried by a local KayBee Toy & Hobby > for $40. I'm pretty sure that this is cheaper than the X-Specs, so the idea > is probably worth looking into. > If you add the price of the Impulse Sega interface to the toy store price of the glasses you're with $10 of the price of the X-Specs alone so it comes down to which design you prefer - sunglasses or goggles. Some people have told me the X-Specs have a wider field of vision but I can't see much difference between the two brands of glasses. All software that works with the X-Specs will work with the Segas/Interface. What you lose by buying the Segas is the disk of nifty software that comes with the X-Specs - a bunch of Stereo IFF pictures, the 3-d game "Space Spuds" and a few 3-D picture making/modifying utilities written by Wade Bickel, when he worked for Haitex. > My questions are: > 1) How do the X-Specs hook to the Amiga? > 2) Does anyone know how the Sega glasses hook up? > The X-Specs plug into mouse port #2. See above for the Sega info. > -- > BRANHAM,JOSEPH FRANKLIN > Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332 -- Harv Laser | SAC-UNIX, Sacramento, Ca. People/Link: CBM*HARV | UUCP=...pacbell!sactoh0!hrlaser
set@xanadu (Scott Townsend) (01/12/90)
Does anyone know the specs for the X-Specs or Sega glasses? I've been
thinking about an application which needs an optical shutter and thought
a lens from one of these glasses might do the trick. Specifications of
interest are maximum switching frequency, how opaque they get, and how
transparent they get. It would be good to know if they might be adversely
affected by low-power laser light also. Any responses would be
appreciated.
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Scott Townsend ...!{cwjcc,decvax,pyramid,uunet}!abvax!set
Polymath Corporation, currently working for (but not representing)
Allen-Bradley Company 747 Alpha Dr. Highland Hts. OH 44143 USA (216) 646-5233ifarqhar@mqccsunc.mqcc.mq.OZ (Ian Farquhar) (01/15/90)
In article <997@abvax.UUCP> set@xanadu.UUCP (Scott Townsend) writes: > >Does anyone know the specs for the X-Specs or Sega glasses? I've been >thinking about an application which needs an optical shutter and thought >a lens from one of these glasses might do the trick. Specifications of >interest are maximum switching frequency, how opaque they get, and how >transparent they get. It would be good to know if they might be adversely >affected by low-power laser light also. Any responses would be >appreciated. If you are a follower of comp.graphics, you will have seen a plan for the interfacing of the Sega 3D glasses to PCs and Macs. I can post his to you if you want, which should define the voltage and frequency levels you get. You should be aware that they are not very efficient, when they are clear it is like wearing dark glasses, and highlights can be seen through it when they are "opaque." They manage about 15 Hz switching rate adequately which looks okay in the dark, but very irritating in the light. If I don't reply in a couple of days, post to me as e-mail is a little flakey at the moment. On more general matters, it would be really nice if the Amiga community could define a 3D glasses standard. Now before you all scream that this would benefit only the couple of manufacturers that produce them, consider this: if there was a standard (not necessarily ratified by CBM), then any game developer could confidantly add the tiny amount of code needed for any sprite based game that would adapt the the 3D standard. What I am proposing is that we simply say that the following pin on the following port makes the left lens black when it passes this level, and this pin on the same port makes the other lens black under the same conditions. I have been speculating ever since I bought my Sega (no flames plase, it was much more entertaining to pull apart than it is to play), that the glasses sans Sega interface card could be easily connected to an Amiga, but that it was a pointless product without games supporting it. Comments, folks? +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | Ian Farquhar | Phone : (02) 805-7420 (STD) | | Microcomputer Support | (612) 805-7420 (ISD) | | Office of Computing Services | Fax : (02) 805-7433 (STD) | | Macquarie University NSW 2109 | (612) 805-7433 (ISD) | | Australia | Also : 805-7205 | +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------+ "A cynic is what an idealist calls a realist." Sir Humphrey Appleby (Patron Saint of Public Servants) Yes, Minister. Yes, Prime Minister. +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------+ | Ian Farquhar | Phone : (02) 805-7420 (STD) | | Microcomputer Support | (612) 805-7420 (ISD) | | Office of Computing Services | Fax : (02) 805-7433 (STD) | | Macquarie University NSW 2109 | (612) 805-7433 (ISD) | | Australia | Also : 805-7205 | +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------+ D