Three-Dimensional Imaging, Visualization, and Display

The history of visual media is characterized by drawing, painting, photo, stereoscope, TV and displays, Holography, and HDTV. Three-dimensional (3-D) imaging, visualization, and display technology is the next phase in this historicaldevelopment.Thereisnodoubtthat3-DTVand3-Ddisplayarethe visualmediathatwillsucceedHDTVinnearfuture.Theevolutionarymerging of communication and broadcast technologies will be enhanced by 3-D vi- alization, including multimedia communication centers which can respond to all the services and functions provided by the future communication systems. Comparison of a scene presented by 2-D and 3-D images reveals that the 3-Dimage providesmuch more pleasing and realisticinformationthan its 2-D version. The bene?ts provided by 3-D images result from the depth infor- tion they preserve.Depth gives viewers the feeling of being in the place where the 3-D image is captured (i.e., immersive feeling) and the feeling of being present (presence feeling). Depth increases e?ciencies in remote site ope- tions, suchasremotemedicalandtele-operations, bymakingviewersperceive the scene as more real from within their living environments. The accuracy andthepresencefeelingarethemainmotivesofdemandsfor3-Dimagesinthe areasofcommunication, broadcasting, entertainment, medicaloperations, v- tual world presentations, advertisement, training, edutainment (education + entertainment), telemarketing, tele-presence, tele-conference, visualization of experimental results, and so on.

Three-Dimensional Imaging, Visualization, and Display describes recent developments, as well as the prospects and challenges facing 3D imaging, visualization, and display systems and devices. With the rapid advances in electronics, hardware, and software, 3D imaging techniques can now be implemented with commercially available components and can be used for many applications. This volume discusses the state-of-the-art in 3D display and visualization technologies, including binocular, multi-view, holographic, and image reproduction and capture techniques. It also covers 3D optical systems, 3D display instruments, 3D imaging applications, and details several attractive methods for producing 3D moving pictures. This book integrates the background material with new advances and applications in the field, and the available online supplement will include full color videos of 3D display systems.

Three-Dimensional Imaging, Visualization, and Display is suitable for electrical engineers, computer scientists, optical engineers, physicists, graduate students, government and industry technology managers, as well as anyone with an interest in this exciting future technology.