But while moviegoers have flocked to recent 3-D offerings, film fans also have had mixed reviews about their experiences, with some reporting headaches, nausea, vision problems and motion sickness. With 3-D leaping to the small screen, clinical researchers and tech experts want to know whether the special effect might damage eyes in the process.

鈥淭he problem with 3-D displays is that unlike the real world, only a subset of the information that normally informs us about the 3-D structure of the world is present,鈥� said , a computer science professor in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Science & Engineering who specializes in 3-D vision and technology.

And processing that incomplete visual information does, in fact, impact our eyes.

Better technology is alleviating the problem.

Allison also noted that recent 3-D movies have gotten better at reducing eye strain by mimicking our natural stereoscopic vision. 鈥淧eople are becoming less gimmick-oriented in terms of 3-D content,鈥� Allison explained. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more emphasis on a comfortable viewing experience where stereopsis enriches the experience rather than defining it, and recent movies like Avatar or Up have been very easy on the eyes.鈥�

The complete article is . For more information about visit the project's website.

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At the April 23 launch at Toronto鈥檚 , 3D FLIC researchers Professor from 91亚色鈥檚 and Professor from the spoke about the critical importance of collaboration to their respective 3D research in film and psychology.

Right: Launch goers watch a聽2D to 3D conversion demo at the 3D FLIC launch

鈥淏ecause the perception of S3D is personal, opinions are strongly held,鈥� Wilcox said. 鈥淧eople assume that how they see is how everyone sees. This is simply false, and testing is the only way to determine the average human鈥檚 perception of 3D. Our goal is not only to study the issues with rigour, but also to disseminate our research results widely. 3D FLIC鈥檚 mandate is to make our results public, and in doing so highlight the central role that the Ontario film industry is playing in advancing S3D.鈥�

Several 3D FLIC industry partners were on site to give previews and demonstrations of their work. The showcase included the 3D Camera Company鈥檚 new Hawkeye S3D camera with a live 3D footage feed; a demo of 2D to 3D conversion by Communications Research Centre Canada in association with Cinespace Film Studios and Creative Post Inc.; a demo reel from Starz Animation Toronto; and a presentation of Side Effects Software Inc.鈥檚 procedural 3D animation software Houdini, which was used for special effects in blockbusters like and .

Left: From left, Stan Shapson, vice-president, research & innovation at 91亚色; David Choat, vice-president of聽human resources at the Ontario Centres of Excellence; Laura Albanese, parliamentary assistant to the minister of聽culture and MPP for 91亚色 South-Weston; Karen Thorne-Stone, president and CEO of the聽Ontario Media Development Corporation; and Jim Mirkopoulos, vice-president of operations at聽Cinespace Film Studios

Visual arts Professor Nell Tenhaaf, associate dean of research in 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Fine Arts and 3D FLIC鈥檚 principal investigator, welcomed representatives from government and granting agencies, including Laura Albanese, parliamentary assistant to the minister of culture and MPP for 91亚色 South-Weston; Karen Thorne-Stone, president and CEO of the Ontario Media Development Corporation; and David Choat, vice-president of human resources for the Ontario Centres of Excellence. Over 100 industry delegates were on hand to learn about 3D FLIC鈥檚 unique convergence of academia, industry, art and science. Attendees included longtime S3D industry leaders such as IMAX and RealD, stereographers and filmmakers.

The 3D FLIC research team includes:

• 91亚色鈥檚 in the Faculty of Fine Arts and the interdisciplinary Centre for Vision Research
• Canadian Film Centre Media Lab
• Ontario Centres of Excellence
• Computer Animation Studios of Ontario
• Cinespace Film Studios
• 3D Camera Company
• Creative post Inc.
• Starz Animation Toronto
• PS Production Services Ltd.
• Side Effects Software Inc.
• Saw VII Productions Canada Inc.

For more information, visit the Web site.

By Amy Stewart, publicist, Faculty of Fine Arts.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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