Part 1: 
An Awstruck Audience

Part 2:
An Idea Takes Shape

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Medical Students with a Mission

During their first year of medical school, the two students were struck by the limitations of static two-dimensional depictions of early embryological development. They knew the technology existed to create animated three-dimensional models and they both felt that such a rich and complex growth process would be an ideal subject for it. Although they had little previous experience, they dove in spent six months learning various applications and then began building their first models. Once they had something presentable they shared these with fellow students and faculty. The university was impressed and asked the pair if they would interrupt their studies for a year to develop their work further and test it in classroom situations as a teaching tool. David and Hanna leapt at the opportunity.

The result of this year was a remarkable interactive animated film called 3DEMBRYO and a wealth of data confirming the value of this format for teaching. “Before we did this,” says David, “there were two dimensional images of discrete stages, but a clear continuous three-dimensional picture of this highly dynamic process only existed in the minds of professors. Our work made this remarkable biological wonder a little more accessible.”

From 3D to Stereoscopic Projection

David and Hanna returned to their studies in the fall of 2002 but continued to work at 3D visualization. The university saw the tremendous potential of this type of technology and was keen on taking it a step further to stereoscopic projection. By February 2003, they had equipped a new facility with the necessary hardware and were eagerly looking forward to David and Hanna presenting their work in this new format. “Of course there was a problem,” says Hanna. “At the time there was no solution for playing back high resolution stereo streams at 25 fps with perfect sound sync. This was an absolute requirement for us, and we knew we would have to find a way to make it work. 

IRIDAS Provides 
“Back Support” for Micro-Neurosurgeon

Richard J. Radna is a spinal Micro-Neurosurgeon. The delicate surgery which he performs requires magnification and the depth perception provided by a stereoscopic operating microscope. 

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Next: IRIDAS and Lennart Nilsson