Product: Binoculars
Quadoculars   (+1)  [vote for, against]
Four connected telescopes, pointed in the same direction, and focused on the same thing

Quadoculars are like binoculars, but two people can use them at once. Perfect for birding with a date. (Maybe a little astronomy later if things go well.)
-- AO, May 28 2003

Similar http://www.halfbake...rwatching_20glasses
...but not the same. [egbert, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Warbler http://www.keithwil...jpegs/streisand.jpg
Please, I beg of you, shoot it. [thumbwax, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

(?) Can you see the real me? http://www-personal...ns/quadrophenia.jpg
[thumbwax, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

When I go birding I wear my binoculars. So does my significant other. Sometimes you really have to move about. These would be fine for sedentary birding, but for ambulatory (the better kind, IMHO), these would be cumbersome and counterproductive, sorry.

I was watching Warblers at the weeked. I'm having a right laugh envisaging us using these. Warblers are small, swift and agile birds. Ahem.
-- saker, May 28 2003


But, saker, think of the romance! Cheek-to-cheek with your love-interest, bumping and jostling as you try to follow a flitting warbler.
-- AO, May 28 2003


Oh, AO, I do, I do, which is why I didn't bone it. But I'm sorry, I can't vote for it 'cos I already have a scope for looking at far off things that are pretty still, like ducks etc. and I've just bought new binos, so I can't afford these!

<blushing> Oh, alright then, croissant for the smooch factor. </blushing> +
-- saker, May 28 2003


What about Sexoculars (or Octoculars or Decoculars (yadda, yadda, yadda)) for the polyamorous or family unit?
-- phoenix, May 28 2003


This would be PERFECT for warblers! No more of that "It's in the left-hand side of that tree." "Which tree?" "Over there, near the diagonally vertical trunk. "What diagonal vertical?" "Oh wait, he just moved, now he's lengthwise in the 2 o'clock position" "I can't find him" "Well, just look where I'm looking" "I see where you're looking but I don't see him!"...
A pair of Quadoculars would make birding so much easier (and quieter!)
-- phundug, May 28 2003


I was looking for that link [egbert]. Thanks for finding it. Seems the same to me.
-- phoenix, May 28 2003


Maybe it's just me, but what's the joy of birdwatching? Do they do spectacular, subtle things when magnified? Again, maybe it's just me.
-- goober, May 28 2003


Yesterday, I was reading my computer magazine and saw an ad for Computer Associates' eTrust Antivirus Software, with dual scanning engines. Showed a guy looking through quadoculars.

Spooky...
-- galukalock, May 28 2003


SWM seeks SWF birding fanatic for a romantic afternoon of bird watching. Have quadoculars.
-- dijontoothpaste, May 28 2003


// Again, maybe it's just me.//

It's not just you, but it's mostly you.
-- waugsqueke, May 28 2003


I want to like this idea, because it helps solve the problem of pointing out distant things to look at.

"Which star do you mean?"
"The middle one in Orion's belt."
"Who's Orion?"

With these you just aim and say, "The one right there."

However, I forsee a problem with usability when aiming. If I start to move the Quadoculars one way while my partner goes the opposite, isn't one of us likely to get a poke in the eye, or worse?
-- krelnik, May 28 2003


[krelnik] You're talking about the very similar idea, 'stargazing binoculars' or '-glasses', or something like that. This is the same thing with magnification.
-- galukalock, May 28 2003


Why not mount a CCD - or a pair of CCDs - in the binocs and port the signal out to a video screen or a VR headset? That way you can be joined by a flexible cable rather than a clunky quadocular.

Or scrap the electronics and use a pair of medical endoscopes.
-- BunsenHoneydew, May 28 2003


Could the focal power be combined, digitally, I wonder?
-- RayfordSteele, May 28 2003


(+) from me. These would be good for concerts with your honey.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 28 2003


// what's the joy of birdwatching? Do they do spectacular, subtle things when magnified? //

Yes. They are very beautiful.
-- saker, May 29 2003


I've had pet birds before, and I agree that they can be beautiful, but...I'll shut up now. It's what everybody wants.
-- goober, May 29 2003


---It's early morning. I have just gotten my first cup of tea and as I step onto the veranda I hear from a high tree top the haunting song of the [goober]---
-- k_sra, May 29 2003


hmm hmmm mmmmm mmm mm hmmmm mm hmmm mm mm mm
-- goober, May 29 2003


Hmm, I don't know that one. Maybe if you were to hum a few bars.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 29 2003


Crash Test Dummies, isn't it?
-- waugsqueke, May 29 2003


That's obviously "Muskrat Love".
-- goober, May 29 2003


Charming idea here, [AO]. Could you do a set of "quadmacrolars" having two pairs of independently controlled macro lenses for panning and zooming? I'm thinking this would resemble a monitor lizard having a pair of fixed eyes on each side of its head. The fun to be had would increase with progression from stamp collecting views to more intimate scene scapes of each other. It could get quite silly...
-- Tiger Lily, May 30 2003


I'm hoping there would be a quick-release connection to split the quadoculars into 2 sets of regular binoculars in order to avoid the uncomfortable idea of sharing with the father-in-law while at the football game. Would also come in handy in case of divorce.

phoenix, "octoculars" sounds so cool. Maybe bristolz could do an illustration for them, like a spider searching for lunch?
-- Canuck, Jun 01 2003



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