Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking

Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by xandman on Thursday October 23, 2025 @03:51AM (#45679340)

Yeah, this came out during the last few weeks of my time in high school. It is a major reason I got into computer science and became a programmer. Good Times!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Friday October 24, 2025 @01:00PM (#45696584)

Wow that's really cool!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by poglet on Thursday October 23, 2025 @03:40AM (#45679260)

Thanks for posting, I was sure I recalled something like this form a long time ago. I also build my self a FreeTrack headset (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeTrack) around this same time to play the Arma / Operating Flashpoint games using IR LED's attached to a hat that my webcam would track.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Sunday October 26, 2025 @09:01AM (#45711470)

You're probably recalling OG Johnny Lee video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

That's cool, what were the benefits/drawbacks of that compared to other VR headsets would you say?

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by duckerduck on Thursday October 23, 2025 @04:29AM (#45679546)

Wow, thanks for sharing, that really takes me back. I was so hyped when I saw this as a kid, my dad and I made a mount for my glasses with two IR LEDs and a battery. I remember that I was super impressed with the effect.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by AndrewOMartin on Thursday October 23, 2025 @05:14AM (#45679851)

I also went to Maplins (UK Radioshack) and bought some infra red LEDs to hack together something to achieve this same effect. In the end I just taped the Wii Sensor Bar to my glasses!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by wingmanjd on Thursday October 23, 2025 @09:36PM (#45689760)

After watching his videos, I went out and bought an IR pen so I could mimic his digital whiteboard. I think over the years, the bluetooth stack changed, so I could no longer pair with windows.

Good memories

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by utopcell on Thursday October 23, 2025 @06:39AM (#45680341)

That was a blast from the past! Many, including me, surely still have those Wii sensors/controllers around. Fun times!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by freethejazz on Thursday October 23, 2025 @06:47AM (#45680376)

Came here to say the same. I remember playing around with this back in the day, but using two candles instead of the sensor bar. Yes, it works. No, it’s not a good idea to hold candles that close to your hair.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by IshKebab on Thursday October 23, 2025 @08:22AM (#45681012)

I tried implementing this with face detection-based head tracking after that demo (or maybe before; I can't remember). I got it working but the effect was very underwhelming. It looks great in that video, but it kind of sucks in real life.

I think the problem is in real life you have an enormous number of other visual cues that tell you that you're not really seeing something 3D - focus, stereoscopy (not for me though sadly), the fact that you know you're looking at the screen, inevitable lag from cameras, etc.

I can't view the videos because of their stupid cookie screen, but I wouldn't be too excited about this. The camera lag especially probably impossible to solve.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by stevage on Thursday October 23, 2025 @06:04PM (#45687921)

Probably also the fact you just don't move much while sitting in front of a screen, so the stereoscopy effect is much more relevant.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by ugh123 on Thursday October 23, 2025 @06:03PM (#45687901)

This is all a severely underutilized technology

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Sunday October 26, 2025 @09:01AM (#45711477)

Amen - let's change that!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by asadm on Thursday October 23, 2025 @10:21PM (#45690040)

this (and several of his ideas) were the reason I value simple solutions so much in my work along with optimising for low cost. "If Johnny Lee can do this crazy thing in cheap, I can think something creative too"

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by RHSeeger on Friday October 24, 2025 @12:08AM (#45690662)

Have you seen the video of the guy who built a camera to film light moving in super slowmo? The things people build amaze me.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Friday October 24, 2025 @01:01PM (#45696594)

Do you have a link?

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by RHSeeger on Friday October 24, 2025 @10:40PM (#45700982)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4TdHrMi6do

Well worth taking a look at

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Sunday October 26, 2025 @08:59AM (#45711458)

This is really cool, thanks for sharing!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by asadm on Friday October 24, 2025 @03:01PM (#45697995)

yes agreed! very inspiring.

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Friday October 24, 2025 @01:00PM (#45696590)

Agreed!

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Re:Glasses-free 3D using webcam head tracking by il_nets on Friday October 24, 2025 @12:07PM (#45696025)

Yes - he's the OG who also inspired us! Credit where credit is due!

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