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June 2005 

Copyright ©
By Howard Berenbon
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Cyber News and Reviews is a monthly column published since 1995 for parents, teachers and small business and home business owners offering articles on some of the best computer products available.  I cover business software, education, entertainment with freeware and shareware, and some hardware too.  Over the years, I've reviewed computer programs from Microsoft, Knowledge Adventure (Davidson) and others.  When my kids were young, they couldn't wait for the software to arrive and have fun testing the games and lessons with me.  And, in the past few years they've contributed some of their own reviews with opinions.  The best advice on software is from the children who use it.  Also, many of the business programs reviewed are useful for home business and small business owners. HB

3D Vision System from eDimensional, Inc.

If you have an interest in the world of 3-D and video games and have wondered if there are any gadgets that will let you see 3-D images on your PC’s monitor, then don’t hit that browser back button, because you’re at the right Website.  This month I’ve reviewed 3-D glasses and connecting hardware from eDimensional, Inc., and you won’t be disappointed to find that you can play games in true 3-D.  In fact, you can even buy software that converts your DVD movies into 3-D movies that work with the glasses.

The package includes one set of wired 3-D glasses, installation software and an interface that connects to the CRT or LCD monitor output on your video card, with a relatively low price tag of just $69.95.  After plugging the glasses (wired version—a wireless version is also available) and monitor cable into the interface, and a quick installation of the video card specific drivers from a single CD, you’re ready to play your games in true 3-D.  Forget about those terrible red and blue lens glasses that so many movies require to achieve 3-D imaging, at the expense of a big headache for most of us.  This system doesn’t work like that.  It splits the image into two, one for each eye, and using a shutter mechanism on the glasses, it flickers on and off to create the 3-D effect.  That’s it!

To play in 3-D, run your video game (most of the new games will work), and hit the video-card specific key to activate the 3-D glasses. For nVidia cards press Ctrl T, or any other card (ATI, Intel, or others), press F5.  Put the glasses on, and get ready for a real 3-D experience.  If you have Microsoft Flight Simulator, that’s a perfect game to get the perfect 3-D effect.  Now, there are some adjustments you may need to make, like moving the double images closer or further apart to enhance the effect, but I didn’t need any adjustments.  After placing the glasses over my prescription eyeglasses I immediately noticed the effects.  Objects popped out of my monitor without any adjustments.  I noticed the screen was much darker than normal (about 50 percent reduction without the glasses), but a quick fix to that problem is to simply increase the brightness on your monitor.

Sarah, my 13-year old daughter tried several games with the 3-D glasses, including Unreal Tournament 2004, a multiplayer action adventure from Epic Games.  She said the 3-D glasses were great.  Especially when the character's weapon popped out of the display.  She let me take over the game for a few minutes, and I was impressed.

The eDimensional 3D Vision System sells for $69.95 ($99.95 for the wireless version) and will run on any multimedia PC, Intel or AMD 400 MHz or faster processor, 64 MB RAM with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP, any video card, 10 MB of free disk space and a CD-ROM drive.  It includes a pair of 3-D glasses, a video synchronization adapter, adjustable earpieces and the E-D Quick-Start Software CD.  For more information or to order visit eDimensional, Inc.

Howard Berenbon

Companies Mentioned

eDimensional, Inc.
460 S. Rosemary Ave Suite 208
West Palm, FL 33401
URL: eDimensional.com

 

 

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