Lorgnette

The Lorgnette is a stereoscopic viewing device that was developed by Evans & Sutherland (E&S) in the 1970s. It is an example of an active shutter system.

It is a rotating segmented disc that masks each eye 30 times per second, alternating left and right. It is meant for a user to hold it in front of his eyes. It works with an E&S Picture System, which synchronizes two offset images (left-eye and right-eye) on a screen to create stereopsis from binocular vision. It is a flat focus device.

It was used for three-dimensional molecular modeling.

The Lorgnette was developed for E&S’ first products, the Line Drawing Systems (LDS-1 and LDS-2). The rotating disks were reportedly manufactured by Ivan Sutherland in a frying pan in his kitchen.

References

• "CSDL". 2024-05-10. https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/cg/2024/05/10736176/21ppngeuFxK.
• "Ivan Edward Sutherland". 1938-05-16. https://history.computer.org/pioneers/sutherland.html.