Michael Starks has an extensive background in science with five years of graduate study at UC Berkeley. He began exhaustive research on the patent & technical literature of stereoscopy (true 3D imaging) in 1973. In 1979 he founded StereoGraphics Corporation, filed his first patents and began selling professional 3D imaging hardware to major corporations and the US Government. In 1982 he led a team which produced the first 3D video games for the Amiga and Atari computers. In 1985 he worked on the first consumer Virtual Reality system which eventually resulted in the production of the famous Mattel Power Glove for the Nintendo game system.
In 1989 he founded 3DTV Corp. and began producing & selling the world’s first commercial home 3DTV system with 3D movies on videotape. In 1990 he developed the "Solidizing" process for conversion of 2D programs into 3D and began selling solidized tapes with the Home 3D Theater system. In 1993 he produced the first commercial 3D CDROM systems (3DCD and PhotoCD) and introduced the first 3D video games for PCs with LCD shutter glasses. In 1995 he provided the hardware, some software and consulting for the world's first widely distributed 3D PC game system - Chinon's "Cybershades". In 1997 he introduced the world's first 3D DVD system for PCs-"TriDVD".
He is or has been a member of IEEE, SMPTE, SID, SPIE, and has published articles in American Cinematographer, Archives of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Stereoscopy, Proceedings of the SPIE and other journals, and the standard reference book "Stereoscopic Imaging Technology"(1996).
Chronology:
| 1973 | Start of research on stereoscopic imaging |
| 1979 | Founding of StereoGraphics Corporation |
| 1981 | First patent application on 3D television |
| 1982 | First 3D video games for Amiga & Atari computers |
| 1985 | Worked on first consumer VR system (Mattel Power Glove) |
| 1989 | Founded 3DTV Corporation |
| 1990 | Introduced first Home 3DTV videotape system (Home 3D Theater) |
| 1990 | Began selling first 2D to 3D converted tapes (Solidizing) |
| 1991 | Introduced wide variety of 3D hardware & software (LCD glasses, Mux & Demux, 30 tapes) |
| 1992 | First commercially available wireless RF and IR LCD shutter glasses |
| 1992 | First sync pulse inserters for above/below system on PCs |
| 1993 | World's first commercially available 3D CD-ROMs (3DCD, Photo3D) |
| 1994 | More 3D hardware (SpaceStation, SpaceBar, SpaceBlaster, PCS, PCP, etc.) |
| 1995 | Produced "3D Magic" -world's first 3D game & educational system for PCs |
| 1995 | Provided hardware and software for Chinon's "Cybershades"-first widely available game kit |
| 1995 | Developed "SpaceSpex" full color anaglyph system for low cost 3D applications |
| 1995 | Produced hardware for "NeoTek" system - world's first successful educational 3D PC system |
| 1996 | Published book "Stereoscopic Imaging Technology", a standard reference |
| 1996 | Filed patents on SpaceSpex, Solidizing, LCD glasses technologies |
| 1997 | Provided consulting & glasses for "RealEyes" consumer home 3D system |
| 1997 | Introduced "TriDVD"-world's first full color 3D system for CD and DVD |
| 1997 | Developed "3D MAN" hardware & software for 3D video on PCs & Internet |
| 1998 | 3D MAN system becomes the standard for 3D video games on the PC |
| 1998 | More video titles released, new models of wired & wireless glasses & interfaces |
| 1999 | More CDs, Tapes & first 3D DVDs; new SolidCam, new SpaceLens |
| 1999 | Patent for Solidizing and Solidizer Pro realtime 2D to 3D marketed |
| 1999 | SpaceSpex color anaglyph used for internet, broadcast & DVD |
| 2000 | First 3D Movies on DVD for PC and home DVD players. |
| 2000 | Cofounder 3DTV Japan and first daily broadcast of 3D programs for small satellite dishes |
| 2001 | Cofounder FOR3D Corp.(USA)which markets realtime 3D media converter 3DMP |
| 2001 | New SolidCam, Solidizer models(miniMux 400,Solidizer IR) |
| 2001 | LCD glasses interfaces Models BBR and LDLB advance shutter glasses technology |
| 2001 | NEOTEK system using 3DMAN kit issues 15 3D CD's to become educational standard |
| 2001 | World's first true 3D Media Servers with 3DMP licensed to US Govt., Christie Corp etc. |
| 2001 | For3D Corp develops first 3D HDTV media server and Suite of Premiere 3D plugins |
| 2002 | Cofounder of new Asian company for development of stereoscopic products |
| 2002 | Licensing of 2D to 3D image converter to X3D Corp and first 3D HDTV media server and Suite of Premiere 3D plugins developed. |
| 2002 | Becomes shareholder and on site stereo consultant for FourVis of Korea. |
| 2002 | Neotek, RetroOpsis and 3DTV Corp deliver worlds first HD stereo video system for microscopy and other scientific applications. |
| 2002 | Neotek and 3DTV Corp deliver TriD --worlds first Windows lowcost superresolution realtime recording/playback 3D video system. |
| 2002 | First tests of low cost underwater stereo systems. |