May 27, 2013

Getting LinkedIn


Do you want to to expand your 3D world? Would you like to learn more about stereoscopic 3D? Meet people using 3D all over the globe? If so, there are two places to go in LinkedIn to learn more and connect with others in the larger 3D world.


First, there is the Stereo 3D Media and Technology group. The links below will allow you to view their:


Second, there is the 3D in Education group. The links below will allow you to view their:


Enjoy!

May 20, 2013

SIG3D Update


In a recent post, I announced that the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) took a landmark step in the arena of educational 3D by establishing a new Special Interest Group. Today’s post provides a timely update as the new ISTE SIG3D springs into action.

Big Growth for SIG3D
In my recent post, Whither eS3D, I made the following prediction:

The new SIG 3D formed by ISTE will double its membership and
establish a growing foothold in educational technology.”

At last year’s first interest meeting we saw approximately 47+ interested partners in attendance, mostly educators and a few manufacturers. My prediction was that SIG3D membership would grow to nearly 100 members this year. How is SIG3D doing so far? Nancye Black, the chair of the SIG3D group reports that membership has exploded to over 571 members as of April 1st.  And it’s still growing. This level of membership growth clearly exceeds all expectations.

All ISTE members are welcome to join SIG3D.  Corporate organizations are also welcome to join ISTE and then sign up for SIG3D. (Many 3D firms already pay for ISTE sponsorship and membership, so it’s simply a matter of joining the SIG3D group.) The SIG3D Website can be found at: http://www.iste.org/connect/special-interest-groups/sig3d

Newsletter Submittals Requested
SIG3D plans to provide a quarterly newsletter as a new SIG. If you have success stories, school stories, district rollouts, or new product announcements (as long as they are educationally driven), please forward your news items to iste.sig3d@gmail.com.




May 13, 2013

ISTE SIG3D Events


Two ISTE SIG3D membership events are now scheduled for this June in San Antonio at the ISTE Conference. We hope to see you there!




o    SIG Open House -- Sunday, 6/23, 3-5 PM
This is an open house for all ISTE members to investigate various SIGs. ISTE SIG3D members are invited to visit the SIG3D booth and mix with each other and potential new members.

o    SIG3D Gathering -- Tuesday, 6/25, 5-6:15 PM
This is the official SIG 3D meeting, which will incorporate a variety of activities: getting acquainted, overview, teacher poster sessions*, and breakout sessions by interests.
I will post precise meeting locations here, as soon as they are confirmed. 

*Please note that SIG3D is soliciting teacher poster presentations (on stereo 3D or 3D printing) to be conducted in the meeting during a 15-20 minute rotation period. Vendors are encouraged to sponsor talented classroom teachers or professors to attend and present at this event. Only educators may present, however. Submit your proposals or questions here.

May 6, 2013

Healing Glasses


I am an amblyope. I have had amblyopia as long as I can remember. It’s known as “lazy eye,” but that is too kind of a euphemism. I’ve been through every treatment you can imagine over the years, and still I possess 20/200 vision in my right eye. Amblyopia’s effects on my eyes have been deleterious, to say the least. It affects my work, learning, driving, sports abilities, entertainment, and my ability to enjoy Colorado’s beautiful natural environment, which so richly surrounds me.

Many amblyopes cannot see 3D movies or media without discomfort, if at all. I am an outlier. For some clinically veiled reason, I can enjoy 3D fully. And do I ever.

In promising development, we are seeing some of the innovations used in 3D technology now being applied to the arena of vision care and treatment. Building upon their intense expertise in optics and 3D glasses technologies, I was delighted to see that XPAND recently announced a clinical solution that promises to reverse the challenges faced by children and adults with this unfortunate eye disorder.  Called Amblyz, XPAND has created a medical device used to treat amblyopia, shaped in the form of normal glasses. Working with world-renowned ophthalmologists and optometrists, this solution has undergone steep clinical trials as well as scholarly peer review in scientific journals, and is now launching into the medical market. Due to the medical nature of this offering, Amblyz is only sold through referring optometrists and opthalmologists, and not direct to consumers or patients. You can learn more about this new (and I believe, 3D-influenced) therapeutic technology at this site: AMBLYZ