Photography, film, and X-ray technology

1851: The first World Expo, known as the Great Exhibition, was held in London. Visitors were enthralled by a new technology known as stereoscopy that allowed people to view photos in 3D. The technique soon became a huge success – and scores of photographers began traveling around the world to take snapshots of exotic destinations and imposing buildings using stereoscopic cameras. Now, anyone equipped with a stereoscope could travel to distant lands from the comfort of their own armchair, and by 1900 stereoscopy had already become a popular mass medium. It is no wonder, therefore, that the discovery of X-rays was quickly followed by the first experiments into stereo X-ray images.

1922: New York’s Selwyn Theatre became the first movie theater to use the Teleview system – invented by Laurens Hammond, this was a forerunner of the shutter technology now used in 3D television, for example. Synchronized viewing devices were attached to the armrest of each theater seat to provide the audience with an immersive viewing experience as they watched the 3D movie The Man from M.A.R.S. Perhaps this technique could also be used to view not only individual images but also an entire X-ray video in 3D?