Color Stereoscopic Presentation of Multidimensional Information
Nowadays, a heavy growth of information technologies gives a strong impetus to stereoscopic or 3D presentation of multidimensional data, but, however, stereoscopic presentation methods are not developing so fast. The author has developed a set of copyright-protected methods to produce color stereoscopic images, which differ basically from existing stereoscopic techniques. He distinguishes the latter ones into three peculiar groups as follows: “stereopair”, moving or dynamic, and holographic one. Within these groups, the author establishes about 15 varieties, which can differ, for example, by separation technique of the stereopair's right and left images. The author creates a color stereogram from differently colored elements on a single flat carrier and reproduces it by using a color stereoscope with one or two optical elements. As a stereoscope, he uses two spectral prisms with their refraction angles facing opposite, or, a collecting lens with diameter 70-150 mm, or two diffraction gratings, etc. The color stereoscopy effects manifest themselves widely, as follows: spectral color stereoscopic effect; saturation color stereoscopic effect; edge color stereoscopic effect; color stereoscopic effect from small black elements contacting colored ones; color stereoscopic effect from small colored elements contacting white ones; color stereoscopic effect from small white elements contacting colored ones. These color stereo effects allow people to make color stereoscopic maps like common ones having a layered hypsometric relief painting (geographic, physical, topographic and special maps), with all their cartographic, informative, metrical and usable characteristics preserved. Color stereoscopic atlases and globes can be made on this basis. Color stereoscopy methods can be also used in display presentation techniques, spectrometry, colorimetry, ophthalmology, painting, advertising business, computer games, souvenirs and toys manufacturing. Production of color stereo maps and atlases allows for a significant saving in paper, paints and labor expenditures per information unit, as compared with typical geographic maps. A color stereogram can be transformed into a “stereopair” stereogram and back again, which allows the author to suggest their genetic unity.