In just 7 weeks, James Cameron’s 3D movie “Avatar” has surpassed Titanic to become the highest grossing film of all time with over $2 billion in sales.  What most analysts have missed out is how, so far, Avatar may have crushed the record-books, if kept, for becoming the single film that has been seen at least twice, in such a short time, by the largest percentage of audiences in the history of moviegoing.

In actuality, for moviegoers to get the full story of 3D movies, they all need to see those movies at least twice.  What made a large number of people act to see Avatar twice vs other 3D films is because Avatar was so different than anything else ever done before.

So why should one see Avatar in 3D twice? Sam Ramadan, one of the world’s foremost researchers on 3D Stereo technologies and its effects on humans, believes that the first time a moviegoer views Avatar, he/she is likely to be disoriented, with his/her brain functions put on full alert trying to grasp what his/her brain believes to be a visual experience that must be stored.  From years of research and observations, Sam concluded that depth perception directly influences what type of visual experiences our brain decides to store or just pass-on.  This is a natural selective process, when turned on (in 3D), it is triggered as a protective measure which induces a need to store the experience, and when turned off (in 2D), it is to enjoy the current moment, pass-on the longer-term storage requirements to reduce brain overload.

When depth perception is at its fullest, at brain perception viewing distance of 1 to 2 feet away, the importance of storing the visual experience apparently necessary for our survival is heightened and our brain becomes keen on learning this experience.  The need of visual experience storage seems to be directly related to the level of depth within the image or clip, the less depth, the less we feel the need to store, and the less attentive we become.

In a 3D movie first viewing, our brain gets very busy trying to get oriented with this new visual experience, often making us lose concentration on the dialogue of the film and the main story.  Do you remember when you first joined a new company or visited a new city, how you felt disoriented trying to grasp the environment around you? But as you revisit and become familiar or oriented with the scenery, you begin to pay better attention the important stuff.  Sam chuckled when he read some of the “negative” story-line reviews about Avatar, because most reviewers did not realize that the 3D scenery effects had distracted them and made them miss the full story that James Cameron was trying to deliver, something that Mr. Cameron could have not recognized or even planned for.  They left not fully understanding the movie, they missed many of the messages and many of them did not know why and thought basically it was a mediocre or bad story.

On the second viewing, and for some, even the third, the brain would have now become more familiar with the scenery and can now better concentrate on understanding the full story, after which once can only appreciate James Cameron’s story.

In summary, 2D films bring little attention to the objects being seen, because a 2D visual experience suggests to the brain that the objects/sceneries are very far away and that the brain should pay little attention to and should not store.  This is why, in a 2D movie, one is more likely to enjoy the story from the first viewing and why with 3D movies, the first viewing is to experience and become oriented with the scenery, and the second or third viewing is necessary to fully enjoy the story.  When people realize this, Avatar ticket-sales are likely to surpass $4 Billion.

So if you did not like the movie because you did not understand the story, you will need to see the movie again, Ramadan assures you that you will very much appreciate the storyline and the strong messages that Mr. James Cameron had tried to deliver.

- Authored by Sam Ramadan

(C) Copyright 2009 by Mission3-D Publishing Ltd., All rights reserved.  This blog article, in part or in whole, may not be copied or reproduced without the Author’s prior written approval.  Only a 50 words max summary may be inserted within other posts, blogs, or articles as long as a link reference is included to this original blog article.

Which also means that men view women 20% smaller than women do!

The scientific explanation for this, perhaps, has always been known, but it seems, this correlation was never before discovered, until Sam Ramadan was explaining to a small audience how humans perceive depth, and spontaneously mentioned the differences between how men and how women see each other, Sam noticed how some in the audience began giggling at one point, and how one member turned to another in the audience, and jokingly said “Yes Jim, be happy, your wife sees your “blank” much larger than you do”, this concise true statement got a near-hysterical laughter response; gladly, Jim took it lightly and was not bothered.  The response compelled Sam to share this new factoid with the rest of the world.

In this post, Sam explains the scientific reasoning, plus, how a person, using the Photo3D 303 Kit, can capture a stereo pair of 3D images representing his/her spouse’s depth and size perception, then print the Stereo 3D image, put on the 3D glasses to experience first hand how his/her spouse sees.

Size perception in 2D visualization is based on perspective alone, which requires visual settings to support such visualization.
Without concrete 2D perspective reference points, humans have a tough time figuring out the exact size of objects due to required missing visual information.

You need to see this image with Stereo RC Vision Photo3D Glasses with the Cyan on the right

However in Stereo 3D visualization, size perception is a factor of both depth perception and perspective.  Depth perception plays a very important role in recognizing and storing size information.

Depth perception is directly correlated to the stereo view angel, and in turn, the stereo view angle is proportionately related to the distance between the left and the right eye of a human being.   The wider the eye separation, the larger the view angle and the smaller objects are perceived and vice-versa.

The Genormica on left sees the city as a miniature, the one on the left sees the city as large as usual, but sees herself very big

In laymen terms, a mouse sees humans as giants because the left-to-right eye distance separation of a mouse is very small.  In the movie Monsters vs. Aliens, when Genormica (Suzan Murphy) got hit by a meteor, and grew into a 49 foot 11 inch tall woman, the city, in her eyes, became small and toy-like, this is because when she became a giant, Genormica‘s left-to-right eye distance separation grew proportionately and considerably.  If Genormica grew but her left-to-right eye separation stayed the same, she would have continued to see the world as big as she used to see it but she would notice how her body became very big by comparison.   When Dreamworks introduced a giant into the storyline of Monsters vs Aliens, they expanded their ability to show depth perception and allowed the audience to enjoy seeing the world in Genormica’s eyes.

For men, the average left-to-right eye distance separation is about 6.5 cm, for women it is about 5.5 cm, so there is an average distance differential of nearly 20%.  Children, have a smaller eye separation, on average, about 4.5 cm.  In a private conversation, one of Sam’s close friends was explaining to him how when he was 8 years old, he mistakenly walked into his father’s bedroom when he was just coming out of the shower and happened to see his father’s private organ, he thought wow that was pretty big, he further explained how this size perception experience stayed in his mind, and how as an adult, he could not help but wonder why his own organ is not as big as his dad’s! Until Sam explained to him that he needed not to worry and that because he had a probable eye-separation of about 4.5 cm as a child, he perceived his father’s organ to be about 45% larger than it really is, by comparison when seen now as an adult.  When Sam finished, he could not help but notice his friend’s sigh of relief.

Sam hopes that if this post can serve to relief some male-induced childhood complexes, then it would be worth writing.

At Mission3-D, the average eyes-separation is 6.61 cm for men and 5.70 for women, with Michael having the largest eyes-separation of 7.1 cm and Dianna the smallest at 5.3 cm, in this case Dianna actually views Michael about 30% larger than Michael sees himself.  There will always be instances where a woman will have a wider eyes-separation than a man, but this is not the norm; at Mission3-D only Mayara had a larger eye separation of 6.2 cm than that of Bruce who had an eyes-separation of 6 cm.

To see for yourself how different you and your spouse sizes things, first using a ruler, note the separation distance between your own left and right eyes from center-to-center, then, mark distance X, do the same for your spouse and mark distance Y.

Then using the Photo3D 303 attachment:

First:
Place your digital camera on the attachment, best to place the attachment on a tripod as per the instruction manual, and capture three sets of images for, either you or your spouse, from 6 feet (2 meters) away: 1) for the right eye from zero placement and capture the first image, 2) then move the camera from zero to the distance separation of X and capture the second image, 3) now move the camera again to distance Y and capture the third image.  Note for best results, use a camera with a 48 or 50 mm lens.

Second:
Mix images 1 and 2 using the Photo3D Mixer and save as your own visual perception, follow by mixing images 1 and 3 and save as your spouse’s visual perception.

Third:
Print the resulting mixed images, at same life size, on your home Inkjet printer using glossy paper, put on your Photo3D glasses, and from the same distance and angle of where your camera was to the object, look at each image separately one right after another - don’t look at them at the same time.  To do it right, you need to look at one mixed image and remember it well, then look at the other mixed image right-a-way, then you will see that the mixed image which pair was taken from a shorter distance separation appears larger than that which was taken from a wider distance.  You can now see how you and your spouse perceive the world differently.

This is a lot of fun to do, try it and if you do it right, it really works.

Click here to learn more about the Photo3D Kit and how to get one.

- Authored by Sam Ramadan

(C) Copyright 2009 by Mission3-D Publishing Ltd., All rights reserved.  This blog article, in part or in whole, may not be copied or reproduced without the Author’s prior written approval.  Only a 50 words max summary may be inserted within other posts, blogs, or articles as long as a link reference is included to this original blog article.

Samer Ramadan with Prime Minister of Lebanon Fouad Sanyoura

…Showcasing the important milestones of its 3D technological advancements and achievements.

Mission3-D was founded in 2002 with a “Mission”, to advance and bring the joy and benefits of Stereo 3D technology to the masses.  7 years later, we are happy to share with our readers our accomplishments and the important milestones we reached during this 7-year period.  With this 7th year promising to be a banner year for Mission3D.

2002 Milestones:

1 - First patent filing by Mission3D’s Sam Ramadan for the Photo3D 303 Attachment.

2003 Milestones:

2 - Top-rated Photo3-D Mixer Software is completed
3 - Mission3-D’s Sam Ramadan discovers the best Red/Cyan spectrum and produces the best 3D Glasses in the world and files for several additional patents.
4 - Mission3-D begins extensive market research by deploying 3DPiX studios to test 3D photography on tens of thousands of people and collect important data.
5 - Mission3-D designs the first stylish collection of 3D Glasses in the world.
6 - Photo3-D 303 Kit is launched and wins major accolades:
7 - Photo3-D Kit wins Gadget of the Week Award from TIME magazine
8 - Photo3-D Kit wins PC Photo Editor’s Choice
9 - Photo3-D Kit is featured on TechTV
10 - Photo3-D Kit receives hundreds of favorable global press reviews

2004 Milestones:

11 - Photo3-D 303 Kit is featured on CNN Headline News – Hotwired Edition
12 - Mission3-D moves its headquarters to Lebanon and continues its extensive research and development efforts

Samer Ramadan and Minister Ghazi Al-Aridi at the Unesco Palace Lebanon Photo3D Exhibit in Beirut

Samer Ramadan, Maguie Farah, and Miss Lebanon Marie-Jose Hnein at the Unesco Palace Lebanon in Photo3D Exhibit in Beirut

13 - Mission3-D organizes the largest and most successful Stereo 3D exhibit in Beirut’s history “Lebanon in Photo3-D”
14 - Mission3-D publishes the first high-quality tourism book about Lebanon, and the first book in the world of its kind.
15 - Lebanon ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism adopts the Lebanon in Photo3D book as official gifts to visiting dignitaries.
16 - Middle East Media, including TV and Press Media, recognizes Mission3-D for its accomplishments.

2005 Milestones:

Samer Ramadan with Host LK Lun while shooting Hong Kong in 3D

17 - Mission3-D embarks on photographing the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong in Photo3D.
18 - Mission3-D shoots new 3D photographs for all of Lebanon.
19 - Mission3-D creates Mission3-D Publishing Ltd. and starts the production of the first Vivid Experience collection in the world for Hong Kong, UAE, and Lebanon including Books, CDs and Postcards.
20 - Mission3-D starts 3D photography of Saudi Arabia and completes photography of Istanbul.

2006 Milestones:

21 - Vivid Experience collections of Lebanon, Hong Kong, and UAE are launched.
22 - Mission3-D starts manufacturing its high-quality 3D glasses in Lebanon and opens its own Photo 3D glasses factory in Tripoli, Lebanon
23 - Mission3-D receives a setback resulting from the July 12 War on Lebanon by Israel.
24 - Mission3-D in wartime, perfects and coins the term Digital Sculpting™ which today includes the absolute best proprietary methods and techniques to take 2D photographs and sculpt them into eye-popping Stereo 3D images.
25 - Mission3-D begins to photograph Egypt in Stereo 3D.
26 - Mission3-D expands into Hong Kong and Dubai.
27 - Mission3-D attracts resellers from the UK, France, Italy, and Australia and numerous other parts of the world.

Prime Minister Fouad Sanyoura meeting with Samer Ramadan after Lebanese Government selects Mission3D's Limited Edition Photo3D Book on Lebanon to be the official Lebanon gift to Heads of Delegations at Paris 3.

28 - Mission3-D republishes the “Lebanon, a Vivid Experience” into a high-end Limited Edition package that was adopted by Lebanon Prime Minister Fouad Senioura to be Lebanon’s official gift to heads of Delegations in Paris 3 conference.

2007 Milestones:

Mission3D discovers that Stereo 3D is up to 8 times more memorable than 2D

29 - Mission3-D completes its research and discovers the importance of Stereo 3D photography and its effects on memory.
30 - Mission3-D perfects 3D printing and develops the Photo3D Super Print Methodology.
31 - Mission3-D invents 3-DiMedia and publishes the first 3-DiMedia supplement made for T3 Magazine.
32 - Mission3-D is commissioned to create a promotional 3D book for the most expensive real estate project in the world, located on the edge of the holiest mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.  300 copies were distributed to the richest 300 Muslims form around the world.
33 - Mission3-D expands into Qatar and Egypt.

2008 Milestones:

34 - Mission3-D discovers Stereo-Feminine and Stereo-Masculine vision
35 - Mission3-D wins the Dubai Lynx Silver Award and Kuwait’s top Gold Advertising Award for Al-Maqam Photo3D Book, the high-tower project was nearly sold-out in 2 months as a result of this promotional book.
36 - Mission3-D wins the highest and most prestigious global award, the PIA/GATF Benny Statue for producing the Best Magazine Insert in 2008 Worldwide for its 3DiMedia Print Advertising supplement in T3 Magazine.
37 - Mission3-D wins the highest Achievement Premier Print Award in the world in Special Print Innovations for its Photo3-D Super Print Methodology and for perfecting the highest quality 3D printing in the world, event sponsored by Heidelberg, Kodak, Cannon, Xerox and Adobe among others.

2009 Milestones:

Samer Ramadan receives $5000 check for winning the Lebanon Charles Chikhani Grand Prize for Innovation

38 - May 25, 2009,  Mission3-D is named Lebanon’s most innovative company and wins the Charles Chikhani Innovation Grand Prize.
39 - Mission3-D creates Business Partnership Programs.

In its constant efforts to promote the use of Stereo 3D technologies, Mission3-D has strictly refused to conduct any marketing efforts to the porn industry.  Many credit the porn industry for the success of the Internet, and many are now betting that the success and wide adoption of Stereo 3D is also likely to be as a result of the porn industry moving to 3D, this would be very sad indeed and calls for great alarm.

Pornography is not only immoral and addictive; it is very destructive as it produces huge negative effects and harms our society.  There have been numerous studies on how pornography affects our lives, some suggest a direct correlation with pornography as credited for the increased rates of sex crimes, impotence, with many suggesting that pornography increases marital dissatisfaction and divorce rates (with a person often trying to envision a porn star when he/she is with his/her spouse, instead of concentrating on his/her spouse, or never feeling satisfied).  Yet porn pundits hide behind freedom of expression and free choice to distribute their materials, claiming that there are no negative consequences of its use, while in reality they continue to poison, sicken our societies, and degenerate humanity.

The fact that something becomes addictive by definition means that self-control—or choice—is lost.  Most sex offenders are heavily involved with pornographic use.  Psychologist Patrick Carnes discovered 3 levels of behaviors resulting from pornographic use:

Level 1:
Discrete behaviors, limited to self-abuse through excessive masturbation.

Level 2:
Annoying behaviors that threaten innocent people and involves sexual harassments.

Level 3:
Behaviors that put innocent victims at risk of major harm or trauma, such as child sexual abuse or rape.

Carnes also found that of those who engage in Level 1 behaviors, some, but not all, will eventually end up in Level 2 and potentially 3.

If you believe that sex was designed to be the force that creates life and that promotes healthy, long-term intimacy and bonding between spouses, you can understand how pornography degrades it by making it into a behavior that is only necessary to fulfill lust.

With all that said about the negative effects that the porn industry has on our lives, take that and multiply by multitudes should this industry begin to distribute their materials using stereo 3D technologies, and here’s why:

Stereo 3D is experiential while 2D is not.  What we see in 2D is stored in our brains as data for conscious recollection and manipulation and has tendencies to be erased and forgotten over short periods of time.  However, Stereo 3D visualization is stored as a live experience, is much more vivid and could last forever having a strong effect on subconscious driven behaviors.  You may also wish to read here about why it is dangerous that all TV and Film be in 3D.

Pornography addicts are willing to pay $3 to rent a 2-hour porn video, yet they are willing to pay upwards of $50 to $100 for a night at a live strip bar – just for the Real 3D visual experience.

While 2D Internet material is like having a porn/video bookshop around the corner of every street or right inside your house and it is very damaging to societies, Stereo 3D Pornographic material is like having live hardcore sex theatres at every corner of every street or inside every home – which is extremely, I mean extremely, dangerous.

I urge legislators and Internet regulators become aware of the potential devastating effects that 3D porn will have on society and can put a stop to its distribution before it becomes too late, and if they don’t, take the existing sex crime rates and multiply them by over 10-folds, not to mention higher increased rates in every negative behavior attributed to pornography addiction.  Law-makers have already turned a blind eye to 2D porn, soon the porn industry is going to realize the financial benefits of turning to 3D, and I so hope this time law-makers don’t turn “two” blind eyes and put a stop to 3D porn before it takes off.

MOST ALARMING - IT IS HAPPENING NOW:

Already at CES 2009 in Las Vegas, the porn industry unveiled plans for expanding the use of 3D TV in delivering adult content.  “If your regular adult entertainment just isn’t doing it for you any more, and even Hi-Def smut isn’t enough, then technology’s got the answer. What you want is this new media centre PC that will convert any porn DVD into 3D… porn,” adds T3 Magazine’s Joe Svetlik.

Just “slip on the 3D glasses, and enjoy,” says T3.com, adding that “the porn industry is going nuts for it right now… that’s traditionally where all the innovation is - multi-angle DVDs came about due to porn, after all.” “Nice! Perhaps the future of cybersex is full three-dimensional pornography” - this is utterly awful news.

ACT NOW:

Save your community and write a letter to your congressman or local legislative body to demand Internet regulations that put a stop to distributing 3D porn and demand that it should be a crime to distribute 3D porn materials, just like it is a crime to distribute or possess child pornography, and while you are doing so, it won’t hurt to suggest that 2D porn be banned, from the Internet, all together, we will all be much better off without it.

- Authored by Sam Ramadan

(C) Copyright 2009 by Mission3-D Publishing Ltd., All rights reserved.  This blog article, in part or in whole, may not be copied or reproduced without the Author’s prior written approval.  Only a 50 words max summary may be inserted within other posts, blogs, or articles as long as a link reference is included to this original blog article.

President Obama and the First Lady watching the 3D superbowl ads

Over the past several months, I have followed many online discussions where Stereo 3D enthusiasts claim that it is time for all TV programs and Films to be made in 3D and how today’s 3D technologies can make this vision a reality.  I’ve read some suggesting that Stereo 3D, while it might work with some specialized shows, it won’t work for talk shows, cooking or home improvements… others claim that the cost will continue to be prohibitive.

What I missed reading was any scientific details of why it should, will, or it should not and will not work.  This compelled me to write, and share with my readers, important findings in hopes of shedding better light on the future use of Stereo 3D technologies.

First I would like to discuss the scientific differences between 2D and Stereo 3D visualization.  Mission3-D’s extensive research has come to realize that a human brain functions with pre-determined programming, programming that is harmonious with the need for survival.  Speech and language is stored in one section of the brain, images in another, and there seems to be a special, wider, more complex place for storing an “Experience”.

Studies conducted by Mission3-D on the effects of depth perception in humans have been quite telling.  It turns out that human depth perception is an intricate part of defining an “Experience”.  While our brains can store words, stories and “2D’ images for re-collection, such “data” tends to be rationally and consciously manipulated by the brain with a potentially different outcome based on the rational of any given situation.  Stored data does not seem to subconsciously affect behavior, stored experiences do.

Most learning retention studies suggest a 7 to 8 fold learning retention when a person experiences something vs. reading about it.  In fact, studies conducted by CongitinveArts of Chicago Illinois, have found that on average, attending a live lecture only results in a 5% learning retention, while reading the same materials allows for twice as much learning retention (10%), viewing a multimedia version story-style version of the same materials results in a 25% learning retention, with learning retention reaching 75% when the person experiences things first hand.  Depth perception is the primary differentiating facture attributed to an experience.

Subsequently, in memory retention research on 2D vs. Stereo 3D imageries, Mission3-D concluded the same results: Stereo 3D images are up to 8 times more memorable than their 2D counterparts, with the memory retention factor increasing with increased depth perception and decreasing with decreased depth perception.  We also noted an increased attentive and awareness state with those who perceive depth vs. those who do not.

Basically our human binocular vision acts as radar of sorts with the need to store a depth-induced experience every time we live a new experience.  Subsequently, we tried to test the effects of depth perception on written text to see if such depth perception can aid in memorizing text, our findings showed quite the opposite.  The human brain became confused with Stereo 3D text; with 2D text the brain expected to store data but with 3D, the brain was being told to store a visual experience.  The result was that the brain became unable to concentrate on each word and was distracted as it was trying to understand what this new experience means.

Psychologically we react differently to 2D from Stereo 3D.  A 2D visual is calming and does not force a high-attentive state or increased awareness, it is passive.  With no depth perception, our brain is told not to store an experience, just store “data” when seen, heard or said repeatedly, such as the story or the net result of what was heard and seen, all stored for future rational manipulation.

Most humans seize to perceive depth beyond 50 meters, seeing 2D, a stage at which we no longer seems to store an experience.  This means that 3D perception is not necessary for all things in our life, 2D has an important role to play.  It turns out that we need 2D viewing as much as we need Stereo 3D.  There will be times when we want to relax and put our minds at ease, and there will be times when we need to be attentive and “learn”, knowing that what we actually “learn” can have major repercussions on our lives.

Note how we are willing to pay more for an apartment situated on a wide street than for on a narrow one, the real scientific reason is that when we open the curtains and look out the windows we feel more relaxed and at ease because objects are seen far away minimizing the need for a heightened state of awareness.  Normally, we go home to relax.  The same can be said about wanting to take a relaxing vacation, often associated with going to a beach resort where you can have ample time looking far into the horizon and minimize depth perception.

I do not foresee ever TV and Cinema being broadcasted in Stereo 3D all the time, if they did, then I can envision how viewers might begin to suffer from too much brain activity, “experience” overload, overwhelming heightened state of awareness, and might start turning away from the TV just to relax a bit; although less hours watching TV is a good thing for all humans, that’s not what the broadcasters want.  Watching a Stereo 3D film or show drains much more energy than watching it in 2D, the depth-induced alarm system commands you to be in a high-attentive state and keeps your brain on high-drive, which can be very tiring.

Depth perception, when used wisely, can open minds, bring the world together, reduce unnecessary, unwanted fears, and increase knowledge and learning retention, but if ill-used, it could reduce beneficial fears, and might result in potential psychological disorders and awkward behaviors.

In a TV talk show, the first few minutes of the first time you watch the talk show results in a depth perception experience that will render the show hosts and their guests more memorable, but unless the settings are constantly changed, the effectiveness of depth perception is minimized as time goes on because our brains have already stored the required visual experience and we start to tune in by listening, and while a slight state of added awareness remains, the 3D experience becomes minimal when compared to 2D.

A show on home improvement, if filmed properly, would actually work quite well in Stereo 3D, as depth perception will act to increase the state of awareness of the viewers and help them store an important experience every time, a strong positive as home improvement shows are intended to teach viewers how to do things.  Viewers are likely to walk away with 3 times the learning retention vs. if they were to watch the show in 2D.

Stereo 3D has been used successfully to scare the wits out of people in horror movies, and although such movies retain a high entertainment value as you watch what looks like a horrifying “reality” that in “reality” is not supposed to affect you.  This use, I believe, begins to cloud reality and non-reality and can potentially damage our in-born built-in system of protection, subconsciously retain such unwanted experiences, and ultimately result in un-welcomed human behaviors and potentially negatively affecting mental health.  Although, I am not much a fan of horror films, with what I know about the effects of Stereo 3D, I’d rather see a 2 hour horror movie entertainment in 2D, walk away and forget all about it, than store a horror learning experience that could potentially stay with me for the rest of my life.

As it is, researchers have already found a correlation between aggressive human behavior and exposure to strong scenes of action 2D films, so can you imagine what could happen if such scenes are viewed in Stereo 3D, and become embedded as learned human experiences? It could be devastating!  Many of us could soon be like the Vietnam Vets who needed mental health treatment with many never recovering.  What is even more dangerous is to begin to learn that such realistic gruesome scenery will not harm us.  It is one thing to see a 2D scene then forget about it, and totally another to live through it and keep it forever.

It is obvious that not all people will go waco with irresponsible 3D use, however there is strong evidence that suggests many more people are likely to, with 3D vs. 2D. Not everyone that plays a shoot-it-all-out video game will go and commit a massacre at school, but we have to admit those numbers are growing.

People reach their strongest psychological fortification point at about age 40, with some learning from negative experiences and work hard to avoid having them, while others subconsciously begin to mimic them.

What I am suggesting is that from all that we know about how some 2D films or games can negatively affect some of the weaklings in our society, 3D is likely to affect many times more.  So I felt the responsibility to put out those warnings. My fears are, that once people begin to reap the financial benefits from the ill-use of 3D, no one will be able to stop them.

I am all for the use of Stereo 3D for tourism, training and education, advertising, sports entertainment, history, performing micro medical procedures, and all positive reinforcing experiences.  If done right, Stereo 3D technologies can revolutionize learning and do wonders for humanity.  But if ill-used it could also serve to further cause destruction and degrade humanity.

Stereo 3D is perhaps one of the most misunderstood mediums, it is not a gimmick as most think of it, it is a very highly effective medium, and just like any medium, it can be used responsibly for the better good or it can be used for evil purposes.  Unfortunately, I suspect it will be used for both, like everything else.

- Authored by Sam Ramadan

(C) Copyright 2009 by Mission3-D Publishing Ltd., All rights reserved.  This blog article, in part or in whole, may not be copied or reproduced without the Author’s prior written approval.  Only a 50 words max summary may be inserted within other posts, blogs, or articles as long as a link reference is included to this original blog article.

Mr. and Mrs. Samir Chikhani and Samer Ramadan with the Grand Prize

In 2008, The Charles Chikhani Foundation in partnership with CERAM university of Nice, France, the CERAM Alumni association, The Beirut Chamber of Commerce, L’Orient Le Jour Newspaper, Executive Magazine, Le Commerce du Levant Magazine, Beritech, American University of Beirut, Memac Ogilvy, and in memory of the departed Charles Chikhani who was a victim of a 2007 car bombing, created Lebanon’s first Innovation Awards.

For Six months they searched and invited over 2,500 innovative companies from all over Lebanon to participate in hopes of finding Lebanon’s most innovative projects in various sectors, such as Technology, Tourism, Services, Finance, etc… with only a worthy innovative project to be awarded the prize for each sector.  The most Innovative Company across all sectors to be awarded The Grand Prize of Innovation and a $5,000 Check.

Mr. Samir Chikhani presenting the $5,000 Grand Prize to Samer Ramadan

On March 25 of 2009, eleven prestigious judges, in a stiff competition, selected only six projects in six sectors as worthy of the Charles Chikhani Innovation awards.  At the Phoenicia Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony, Mission3-D of Tripoli, Lebanon was named the most innovative company in Lebanon and Samer Ramadan was awarded the Grand Prize for all of his company’s innovations, inventions, and contributions to the advancement of Stereo 3D photography, Photo3-D Digital Sculpting™ technologies, and innovative 3D publishing throughout the world, with Mission3-D’s Photo3-D 303 Kit being named the most Innovative project in the Technology Sector.

Lebanon Press Coverage of the Event:

iLoubnan.Info (in french)

L’Orient Le Jour Newspaper (in french)
Le Commerce Du Levant Magazine (in french)
Al-Nahar Newspaper (in Arabic)

The 3D Revolution is happening, so why not enjoy Lebanon’s beauty in True-Life 3D Photography captured by world expert 3D Photographer and Lebanese-American Sam Ramadan. What you will see will dazzle you and amaze you,   You will not believe your eyes.

Take a virtual visit to Lebanon and transport yourself into Baalbeck’s temple ruins, Jeita’s magnificent grotto, Tripoli’s spacious citadel, Beiteddine’s elegant mansion, Beirut’s newly rebuilt downtown, the glorious Cedars of Lebanon, Anjar’s Mamaleek ruins, Btraoun’s lonly Castle, Sidon’s (sayda) Sea Castle, Tyre’s (sour) ancient roman arenas, Byblos’ oldest continuousely enhabited port in the world, or Jounieh’s picturesque bay and bustling streets and shops.

It is an experience you will not want to miss. Lebanon’s Vivid Experience CD series Best-of-Lebanon CD has been Lebanon’s best seller CD ever since it was introduced into the market in Lebanon, and now we are pleased to make it and the entire CD collection available to you via our own Mission3-D Factory’s Photo3-D Online Shop.  This CD is a must-have for everyone who loves Lebanon or wishes to explore it.  Click Here to Purchase. We accept all major credit cards on our secured shopping site and you can also pay through PayPal.

Featured 3D images of Baalbeck, A Vivid Experience CD:

Gallery of The Stunning Stereo 3D Photographs Available on the CD

Best-of-Lebanon, Lebanon A Vivid Experience Photo3-D CD by Sam Ramadan captures stunning Photo3-D  images  of Lebanon’s most thought after places to visit and presents it in a  life-like slide show with newly  composed  music.   The CD can be played in one of 4 languages (English, French, Arabic, and Chinese - all included).

Just place the CD inside your computer and  get  virtually transported to the stereo  photographed Lebanon scenes and  enjoy  your  Photo3-D slide show tour  while  listening to  soft music, or feel  free  to  select your favorite  scenes  from the  Photo3-D Gallery inside the  CD.

The Best-of-Lebanon CD includes 56 stunning images from Lebanon, and includes Stereo Binocular-Vision close-ups of detailed stone art that cannot be seen by the normal human eye.  It works on both Mac OS/X and Windows.  If you are a world traveler, historian, architect, Lebanese ex-patriot or a collector, you will not want to miss owning this CD. Click here now and to get your own copy.

“Special Promotional Offer”

Purchase Any Two CDs from Lebanon’s Vivid Experience collection and receive a FREE pair of Stylish and Durable Photo3D Glasses as a Gift ($15 value).  Just make sure to mention in your order notes/comments that you saw this offer at “Sam Ramadan’s Mission3-D Blog”.

Other detailed area CDs in the collection are also available for Baalbeck, Tripoli, Beirut, Byblos, Sayda, Sour, Batroun, Jounieh, Beiteddine, The Cedars, Anjar, and Duma.

Here are some introductory information about Lebanon:

Coolly combining the ancient with the ultramodern, Lebanon is one of the most captivating countries in the Middle East. From the Phoenician findings of Tyre (Sour) and Roman Baalbek’s tremendous temple to Beirut’s BO18 and Bernard Khoury’s modern movement, the span of Lebanon’s history leaves many visitors spinning. Tripoli (Trablous) is considered to have the best souk in the country and is famous for its Mamluk architecture. It’s well equipped with a taste of modernity as well; Jounieh, formerly a sleepy fishing village, is a town alive with nightclubs and glitz on summer weekends.

With all of the Middle East’s best bits - warm and welcoming people, mind-blowing history and considerable culture, Lebanon is also the antithesis of many people’s imaginings of the Middle East: mostly mountainous with skiing to boot, it’s also laid-back, liberal and fun. While Beirut is fast becoming the region’s party place, Lebanon is working hard to recapture its crown as the ‘Paris of the Orient’.

The rejuvenation of the Beirut Central District is one of the largest, most ambitious urban redevelopment projects ever undertaken. Travelers will find the excitement surrounding this and other developments and designs palpable - and very infectious.

Finally, Lebanon’s cuisine is considered the richest of the region. From hummus to hommard (lobster), you’ll dine like a king. With legendary sights, hospitality, food and nightlife, what more could a traveler want?

If you’ve always wanted to visit Lebanon but was alarmed by the some travel advisories, we offer you the next best thing: A Stereo 3D Virtual Tour through the Best-of-Lebanon Vivid Experience CD, why wait? Click here to buy.

source: lonelyplanet.com

…and Proves the Usefulness of 3D Photography!

The above CNN Headline News | Hotwired special report first aired back when Mission3D first introduced their 3D Digital Camera Kit, the first in the world.

I still remember being informed by our then PR agency PerkettPR that the folks at CNN really liked our product and that they will air a report on Hotwired about it.  We were coming off another great favorable review by Time Magazine who had earlier awarded our Photo3D Kit, Time Magazine Gadget of the Week. Click here to learn more about the kit.

I remember sitting across from the TV and waiting for the report to air in the USA market, I had my VCR ready to record the review.  Then with total excitement we began to watch it.  The report was really favorable and fun, but along the way when the Photo3-D Kit image was being broadcasted, Mr. Brian Cooley, Editor at Large at CNET.com, makes the following statement:  “…and even though 3D Photography is still basically a fun gimmick, there is no purpose to it, it’s kind of fun…”

Did I hear Mr. Brian Cooley right? I was stunned!, I quickly replayed the tape and sure thing, he said it.  Why was I stunned?  When Mr. Cooley made this statement the only thing that came to my mind was:

1st: 3D photography allows for depth perception which normal 2D photography does not.

2nd: One cannot perceive depth without having TWO eyes.

3rd: Did God create TWO eyes for us to see depth with without a purpose and just for the fun gimmick of it?

Now to be fair, my gut told me that Mr. Brian Cooley was wrong, but honestly, I did not have a concrete answer to respond with to Mr. Brian’s challenging statement.  I researched and researched, looking for concrete examples for the benefits of 3D photography and everywhere I looked, the mention of fun, gimmick, awesome and great, and real life-like, and on and on, but I could not find a concrete answer, so was Mr. Cooley right?

Little did Mr. Brian Cooley know that the challenge he posed on CNN would make Mission3D invest over a million dollars and 4 more years of research to discover that 3D photography, other than being lots of fun. is not only useful, but its use should revolutionize learning and advertising.  As it turns out: a 3D photograph can be as much as 8 times more memorable than its 2D counterpart.

Mission3D’s research was completed in 2008 and one of its fruits was the introduction of a new advertising medium “3-DiMedia” that has won, at the global level, the highest and most prestigious Premier Print Awards in 2008.  Click here to learn more.

In this post, and on behalf of all the folks at Mission3D, I would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr. Brian Cooley and CNN for presenting this challenge and ultimately for their contribution to the advancement and adoption of 3D photography.  Perhaps if CNN did not air the review and if Mr. Cooley did not make this statement, we would have not been compelled to find concrete answers to prove that contrary to existing beliefs, 3D photography is actually very useful and serves a great purpose.   Oh, one more thing: it would be nice if CNN now says “you’re welcome” by spreading the news about this most important discovery

Authored by - Sam Ramadan

Ghar Hira, Jabal Al-Nour in Stereo 3D (frame not included)

And you can do so at the comfort of your own home!

If you’ve been to Hajj or Umrah in Makkah of Saudi Arabia, you know how hard it is to take the 1-2 hours arduous climb to Jbal Al-Nour (mountain of light) to reach Ghar Hira (Hira Cave) the sacred place where angle Jibraeel (Gabriel) appeared to prophet Mohammad (pbuh), hugged him and asked him to “read in the name of Allah, the creator…”.  Now we all agree that nothing compares to being really there near the top of mount Nour, however, the experience we promise you with is absolutely the next best thing to being there.

Never before in history has, Islam’s Sacred Ghar Hira, been photographed and presented in True-Life Stereo 3D.   Mission3-D’s Sam Ramadan is the first in the world to photograph and produce this utterly amazing and astonishing 40×60 cm size Photo3D Super Print.

Each Super Print 3D Photograph is uniquely printed “for each customer order” on high-quality photographic prints using our special Photo3-D Super Printing System.  These are not commercially printed posters and each 3D Photo Print is unique and sequentially numbered.  Just put on the attached high-quality, stylish 3D glasses and transport yourself and fellow Muslims into virtually becoming in front of the Ghar Hira at the top of Jabal Al-Nour near Makkah.

You will not believe your eyes as you will immediately feel the urge to reach out and touch, with your hand, the Hira Cave, and when you do, it will truly seem to you that much of your arm has literally gone inside the Hira Cave.  This is one of the best, Anaglyph 3D images ever to be photographed, created and experienced, and is a great 3D picture for framing and displaying inside your home, office, or your community Masjid (Mosque), or Madrassa (school); it also makes for a fantastic gift idea (just make sure you order the 4-Gift Poster Tube).  Also available, THE KAABA BLACK STONE in TRUE-LIFE Stereo 3D.

Samer Ramadan at Ghar Hira - Caption from Ghar Hira CD

We are confident that you will dazzle and amaze your Muslim brothers, or any visitor, every time you allow them to look at your 3D Super Print with the 3D glasses.  Click here to order now!

Each Photo3-D Super Print will be shipped in a protected Dura-Tube and includes a single pair of Stylish Photo3D RC900 glasses, but of course you can order as many additional 3D glasses as you like to allow more of your friends and colleagues to enjoy this wonderful experience with you.  Mission3-D’s factory direct secured Photo3-D Online Shop accepts all major credit cards and you can also pay via PayPal, so what are you waiting for, Buy Now and be one of the firsts in the world to own this magnificent piece of work.

If you wish pay via MoneyGram or Western Union, please email Sam Ramadan directly at: sam@mission3-dgroup.com and state your shipping address for us to email you the instructions.

Still not convinced and you need more proof? OK, we’ll offer you a FREE pair of 3D glasses so you can try for yourself first.

Here’s what you should do:

1.    Bookmark this post to return to it
2.    Click here to get your FREE pair of Red/Cyan 3D glasses from Mission3D
3.    Once you receive your FREE pair of 3D glasses, come back to this post
4.   Place the glasses on and now try to put a cotton swab inside the Ghar Hira

Isn’t that truly amazing? Now can you imagine how you’ll feel when you own a high-quality 40×60 cm near-life size 3D super print of the Sacred Ghar Hira?

One more reason to buy: Stereo 3D looks much better in hi-resolution photo prints than on your PC and this poster-size photograph is bound to become a collector’s item.

But I know that most of you can’t wait and would rather save time and get the full experience, so for those of you who can’t wait, go ahead, I promise you, you will not regret it.   Ever since Mission3-D produced this Stereo 3D image, Mission3D became flooded with requests from friends and family members to get a print, many asking us to name our price, so we figured why not let all Muslims around the world enjoy this experience.

This is an exclusive offer that is not available anywhere else on earth.  The Ghar Hira in True-Life Stereo 3D is Copyright 2009 by Mission3-D Publishing, all duplications are strictly prohibited.

Want to Experience the Climb to Jabal An-Nour?

Take a fantastic virtual trip in True-Life Stereo 3D up Jabal Al-Nour all the way to Ghar Hira.  See for yourself in near real-life setting and experience what the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) experienced every time he went up the tretiourous terrains.  The CD includes 69 stunning images that will make you feel right-there climing the mountain.

Screen Shot of the Entry Screen (English Language Selected)

Main Selection Menu (English Language Selected)

In addition to English, the CD can be played in Arabic, French or Chinese.

Arabic Language Support

French Language Support

Chinese Language Support

Portion of the 69 Stereo 3D Image Gallery Documenting the Climb

You are only clicks away from getting your own copy of Ghar Hira, Click her to Order.

Why was the Super Bowl XLIII 3D extravaganza both a major success and a big failure?  Who’s to blame?

If you watched the super bowl and enjoyed the 3D effects of PepsiCo’s Sobe Lifewater and Dreamworks’ Monsters vs. Aliens commercials created using InTRU 3D, you are probably lucky.  But for the rest of us,  it felt like Dreamworks and their 3D execution consultants pulled a stunt and the audience took the bait. Are they to be blamed? Sam Ramadan believes they are partly culpable.

Dreamworks CEO Jeffry Katzenberg, in his own words in a video interview aired on YouTube, confirms that Dreamworks “pulled a stunt,” also mentioning, “We were using 3D in the Super Bowl for the first time,” which is not very accurate.

In reality, another not-so-exciting 3D was used before during a Super Bowl way back in 1989 during the live half-time musical show, which also included a Coca-Cola 3D commercial using the Pulfrich 3D glasses technique.  This is a technique Sam likes to call 3D Stereo TD Vision, for Stereo Time Delay Vision and is quite different than anaglyph (color filtering).  To give Mr. Katzenberg credit, Super Bowl XLIII was the first time they used the anaglyph yellow/blue filtering.  Mission3-D’s trademark name for this technique is 3D Stereo YB Vision, just as Stereo RC Vision is for red/cyan filtering and Stereo MG Vision is for magenta/green filtering.

By the way, Stereo RC Vision is best used to view anaglyph real-life images of real nature scenes since it does as good a job as YB  in showing more colors than traditional red/blue anaglyphs, plus Stereo RC Vision also has a high-luminous consistency for right or left eyes under both daylight and dim-light conditions.  However, we do agree that Stereo YB Vision does better with colorful kids’ 3D animation films where use of reds and oranges are abundant - the question is just a matter of what colors you are using more in your production.

3 reasons for its major success:

1)   Dreamworks and organizers were able to get almost everyone worked up and seeking a pair of 3D glasses.
2)   American Paper Optics made its largest order of “Color-Code 3D” glasses (reportedly 125 million pairs) and benefited both financially and by getting major publicity.
3)   The movie got a lot of attention, people waited to watch the commercial, and many actually did view it.

3 reasons for its huge failure:

1)   Most people who watched the 3D footage did not see the 3D effects very well.
2)   Many did not notice any 3D effects at all.
3)   A substantial number of people experienced headaches that could have been avoided by providing the 3D glasses with very simple instructions.

Unfortunately, as Sam Ramadan explains, this stunt has had negative impact on 3D glasses adoption by the mass market and distances people further from enjoying stereo 3D safely and properly through better understanding.  While IMAX 3D and REAL D, using controlled-distance-view polarized technology, have encouraged acceptance and increased the demand for Stereo 3D visual entertainment, misuse and misunderstanding of stereo anaglyph 3D technology in a chaotic, uncontrolled-view-distance environment is disappointing and discouraging many.

click here to find out what Sam Ramadan thinks caused this failure or click on the following post:
Why is stereo 3D not Ready for broadcast TV?