Company says 3-D images to aid learning

ALBANY — From 40 feet out, the armored alien fired his neutron pistol. Over and over, the orbs of energy raced toward their intended targets.

To escape the impact, Dougherty Rotary Club members tried leaning and shifting. Some moved to other tables, but their efforts seemed hopeless.

“If you can see the screen, he can see you,” said Stewart Rodeheaver, CEO of ViziTech USA.

The attention-getting intro began a demonstration of the ViziTech 3D Digital Classroom with 3D projector. Behind the marauding aliens came an array of ultra-real helicopters, super-celestial bodies and skip loaders dumping dirt beyond the screen. Giant molecules of an uncertain substance floated near faces, prompting viewers to reach out for them.

Rodeheaver, a retired Army brigadier general, has assembled existing technologies from military and other sources to create ViziTech USA. He sees the astounding 3D qualities of his classroom systems as a superior method of learning.

He cites informal observations of fourth-grade students who, seven days after viewing a 3D learning session, could remember facts such as the rotational direction of a specific planet or characteristics of orbiting satellites.

A key element of the system’s 3D properties is the powered glasses required to view them. According to Rodeheaver, “movie 3D” works through the attachment of a special lens to the front of a theater projector. The attachment splits the movie frames into separate images for the viewer’s left or right eye, as appropriate for 3D. The movie glasses complete that process optically, making 3D possible.

In contrast, ViziTech’s powered glasses actually “shutter” the lenses — alternating left and right — in sync with the images, thus creating the 3D effect and making the projector attachment lens unnecessary.

“Those kind of glasses make some people seasick,” Rodeheaver said. “Ours don’t.”

According to Rodeheaver, the ViziTech system is becoming popular with local educators. Four 3D systems were recently delivered to Cordele schools, he said, and the Bainbridge Rotary Club is buying one and donating it to the Bainbridge school STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) department.

“Right now, we don’t have any contact going with the Dougherty County system,” Rodeheaver said.

A fully integrated and portable classroom system with 3D projector and associated software retails for $8,500 and includes 25 pairs of powered 3D viewing glasses. The product is manufactured according to ViziTech specifications by AV Rover, Rodeheaver said.