[PCWorld]

How difficult is it to bring 3D to only 2D data? That’s the question that a group of researchers fromOchanomizu University–an all female school–have come up with an answer to: not very difficult, all you need is a mirror.

Using an iPad and its multitouch capability, the research group from Ochanomizu University is developing a cylindrical mirror and iPad app which can be used to simulate an object in 3D. The technology for the device isn’t new; it uses a projection process called “anamorphosis,” which means to change from one form to another.

First, the iPad displays a distorted 2D image on its screen. The cylindrical mirror is then placed onto the iPad. Using an interactive system called Anamorphicons, the distorted image is picked up by the mirror, where it is morphed from 2D to 3D. The image no longer appears distorted on on the cylindrical mirror.

The interactive system that Anamorphicons uses allows you to rotate the 3D image by simply rotating the cylinder mirror. …

Read the full story here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/243016/cylindrical_mirror_brings_3d_to_the_ipad.html

This story was previously posted here: https://www.etcenter.org/2011/10/cylindrical-mirror-optical-illusions-on-the-ipad/