Capturing omni-directional stereoscopic spherical projections with a single camera

Abstract

This paper will discuss the photographic capture of omni-directional stereoscopic spherical projections, that is, a means of creating stereoscopic spherical projections that can be experienced by a single viewer without the need for head tracking or by a larger audience all of whom may be looking in different directions. We will illustrate a means of photographically capturing such stereoscopic image pairs using a single camera and fisheye lens. The principles behind this technique have previously been applied to computer generated stereoscopic spherical projections [1], a simpler situation due to the greater flexibility of virtual cameras. Applications of these omni-directional stereoscopic spherical projections include general virtual reality environments, the increasing number of stereo capable digital planetariums, and a personal hemispherical immersive projection system known as the iDome [2].