Koolness.

This was implemented mainly through the work of an enthusiast who wanted to see more stereoscopic functionality.  It still has some work but my guess is we may see even more sharing of content as it becomes better known.  In Sept. there will be a lot of folks using their brandspanking new Fuji cameras with real 3D mode video to play with too.

Here's the lowdown on how to enable 3D in your stereoscopic uploads http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/07/youtube-3d.html and you can see a help forum discussion at http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/youtube/thread?tid=56b6f6f15dabf994&hl=en for the folks with technical leanings.  A gearlive discussion of the implentation is at http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q309-youtube-3d-videos/ and blogoscope has some tips at http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2009-07-20-n37.html

Here's an example video:

Go to the native youtube clip at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyUhAUjw-pU and play with the settings to see the viewing options as they seem to only be available at this time on the youtube clip's resident page rather than on the embeds . . . but you get the idea.  Watch the example in HD mode.  I found that there was too much ghosting on my monitor (which is huge) in anaglyph mode but when I played it within the page, it looked awesome and a half!

If you want to see more native 3D content via youtube, just do a search for the yt3D:enable=true string that content creators need to use as a tag when uploading their 3D videos so they work within the system and there's already plenty to play with.

Yes, when I have my new Fuji camera . . . and I WILL HAVE ONE . . . with the stereovideo options, I too will be uploading all manner of 3D video goodness, even hypnosis 3D, yes, I will (although I won't be the first as my friend Alan Silliphant – the Anachrome guy – shot some 3D footage of a hypnosis seminar decades ago).

Speaking of 3D and youtube, zombie-popcorn has a list of some top rated 3D clips from before the impelentation of the new tool at http://zombie-popcorn.com/?p=85 - nope, can't change the viewing options but one will still find plenty of anaglyphic action pre-tool.

Please, please, please . . . do NOT use the 3D enable tag for a regular monoscopic video and assume it will magickally turn into 3D if you just add the tag.  Nope, that only makes it hard to view.  You need actual true 3D stereoscopic footage shot with two cameras or lenses to get the 3D effect.  Watch this tutorial:

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv2sSybrWv0 for the effects and options.  You can read a tutorial at http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=3874 and a fair tutorial on making your own 3D webcam at http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=98&t=3742 which was kind of a neat little thingie.

It's understandable if a bunch of kids on youtube are making the rookie mistake of just adding a tag to their clips in order to convert them into 3D and only making a total mess of the thing but you really need to make sure you understand the beastie and once you do you'll know how to make your own incredible content native true 3D content come to life!