Alioscopy was founded in 1999 by Pierre Allio, who pioneered in glasses-free 3D screens and multiple view camera systems as early as 1986. Since then, a portfolio of patents covering all aspects of this groundbreaking technology has been registered internationally.

Alioscopy manufactures a range of glasses-free 3D screens in different sizes to suit various needs and viewing conditions. All software required to operate these screens is developed in-house and supplied with the screens. This includes 3D camera scripts for popular image creation software, a proprietary playback application and a software development kit for real-time application developers.

The technology relies on the combination of two complementary features:
· a patented image multiplexing algorithm, required to code multiple-view content into a single Alioscopy image.
· a high precision array of glass lenses, very accurately aligned with an LCD panel, in order to "decode" this image spatially.

Content is the key to any image related hardware industry. Therefore, Pierre Allio built his first 4-view camera as soon as 1987. Increasing the number of views was a necessity to grant viewers more freedom to position themselves. As soon as display resolution enabled the mixing of 8 views without trading off image quality, Alioscopy developed an 8-view camera, aligning 8 small independent cameras connected to a computer. The third generation of this autostereoscopic video rig will be presented for the first time at Beyond 2012.

Abstract

In fact, it is the perception and consciousness of his surroundings that has guided his steps throughout this journey. Psychophysiology of our natural perception of depth in real life, combined with the need to test, for himself, all the tips and tricks or illusions caused by having two eyes and knowing how to use them has presided over all the knowledge implemented by his team and himself during this time.

If glasses-free 3D television becomes a standard one day, it will resemble what they do now, at least initially. All it takes is to observe what is happening today among manufacturers while remembering that, from the beginning (1987), they had developed a real-time digital processing of a video signal obtained by a camera providing 4 views, glasses-free, on a cathode ray tube (CRT) equipped with a microlens array. Then, as early as 1993, Mr. Allio filed their first patent to replace the CRT by a liquid crystal display (LCD). Today, digital video and flat panel displays are standard, but back in 1987 and 1993, it was really daring to try and to succeed!

They continue to move ahead, albeit slower, and the means and resources required are growing as they get closer to reaching their goals. However, they undoubtedly contribute to their technical progress every day. Their upcoming 8-view camera shows that there are still technical achievements to be finalised but, more importantly, content must be created - beautiful and interesting content. They want to provide inspired filmmakers with the means to astonish and nourish audiences with their imaginative and creative skills.

“I haven't forgotten my first motivation, far away from creating a new technology it was simply to show my work as a sculptor. This is the only motivation that matters, the rest will dissolve without being
remembered “ (Pierre Allio)

Curriculum Vitae

After practicing sculpture from an early age and then studying at the École Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris (ENSBA) and the French Institute of Restoration of Works of Art (IFROA),Mr. Allio decided in 1986
to present his work in 3D using means of traditional stereoscopy. The inadequacy of the results obtained encouraged him to imagine new ways for presenting 3D images without requiring special eyewear.

At the time, he ignored everything related to this subject and knew nothing of his illustrious predecessors: Lippmann, Bonnet, etc. Therefore, he reinvented the idea of ​microlens arrays and developed the foundations of what is now the core of Alioscopy. Of course, he eventually met Maurice Bonnet, who, despite his old age, was still active at CNRS in Paris, rue du Maroc, and he learnt about the works of Lippmann and all his successors. However, ‘the worm was in the fruit’ and although most of these outstanding works had taken place before he was born, he never stopped aspiring to innovate in this field.

25 years and over a dozen patents later, he runs a small company, Alioscopy, and together with a team of about twenty highly qualified employees, they continue to innovate in the same direction. This is despite having been told by many at the beginning of this adventure that this path was impracticable, utopian and even foolish.