This Might Be the Most Useless Thing You Will Learn Today

[beamjockey]

A feature briefly introduced by Google Books on April Fool's Day has returned: one can request that book pages be displayed in 3-D.

Here's a fine example.

If you are the sort of person who keeps red-cyan anaglyphic glasses around, you will observe that Google gives a gentle curve to the pages, like a real book lying on a table.

I wish Joan Eslinger had lived to see this. As a stereophotography buff, she would have been tickled.

As Google's 29 June announcement explains, to view a book in 3-D, incorporate the parameter "&edge=3d" into your book URL. (If there is an octothorpe (#) in the URL, this parameter must be placed somewhere to the left of the octothorpe.)

You're welcome.

Comments

[seawasp]

I think that's the first time I've heard # referred to as "octothorpe". Everyone I know calls it "number sign".

[marsgov.livejournal.com]

Oh, "octothorpe" is fine old Bell Labs usage. I was balking at "anaglyphic."

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

I was balking at "anaglyphic."

Is my usage of that word less than correct in some way?

[marsgov.livejournal.com]

My old-fashioned dictionary (Linux/Gnome) didn't cover that usage of the term. And I hadn't seen your usage before, although I concede it seems correct.

Certainly I can forgive you that usage in recognition of your efforts to propogate "octothorpe."

[kathythorne.livejournal.com]

Back when I was a TA in air photo interpretation we called them anaglyghic glasses so I'd say you were correct.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Or "pound sign." Or Capital Three.

[rono-60103.livejournal.com]

Being musically inclined, I've been known to call it "sharp" even if, technically, they aren't quite the same.

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

I think that's the first time I've heard # referred to as "octothorpe". Everyone I know calls it "number sign".

Please indulge me. I have very few opportunities to use the word "octothorpe" in conversation.

[marsgov.livejournal.com]

Given my day job, I do, and often to persons unfamiliar with telephony.

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Has returned? Seems like I keep seeing the "3D" feature at Google. I'm pretty sure it's in the street view of Google Maps, for instance.