Audioholics has released a scathing report on the psychophysiological effects of the 3D technology currently rolling out in video games and tv’s. Citing both science, and 3D pioneer Mark Pesce of Sega, the article goes on at length to discuss the effects of prolonged 3D use. The original Sega report concluded, “You cannot give this to kids” – period, and the technology is not really recommended for teens and adults.
Ever do those Magic Eye pictures, where staring makes the 3-dimensional image appear? Basically you’re temporarily forcing your eye into strabismus, or “lazy eye”. Modern 3D glasses produce their effect by guiding, rather than forcing, your eyes into this condition and keeping them there. Which means as long as you have on the glasses, you are training your eyes into a serious vision impairment – for hours at a time.
In the mid-90′s Sega was set to release its Sega VR when the Stanford Research report came out detailing the effects of the technology. Fearing lawsuits, Sega buried the report and the VR. The kernel of the Sega technology, significantly streamlined, is the essence of polarized 3D today (for more on how 3D works, see How Stuff Works).
What are your thoughts? Worth the risk, or will you wait and see how this plays out?
[from Audioholics, via GamePolitics]
Not a fan of the whole 3D craze. Avatar was way overrated and I believe films in general look better without it (even the visionary Chris Nolan agrees with me on that). While I have yet to see a 3D game for myself, I think the whole thing is very gimmicky and the public is eating it right up. If our eyesight is at risk, then it is not even remotely worth it.
I don't see the point in 3D gaming in the first place. I'll admit it would be pretty awesome, but with jacked up prices for TVs, games, etc, its not worth the cost or your eye health. I mean a movie is okay to see in 3D for two hours provided that you aren't seeing them every single day. All in all, just wait, do we really need 3D gaming?
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