3D Photo Viewer for Looking Glass

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The Looking Glass
I created my first Chrome extension, which is now live on the Chrome Web Store! It's built for the Looking Glass, a holographic display that let's you view three-dimensional objects without glasses. I've also opened the source to the extension on GitHub.

The Chrome extension allows you to view Facebook's "3D Photos", a feature they added in 2018 for displaying photos that include a depth map like those from phones with dual cameras, such as Apple's "Portrait Mode".

Getting Started

To use the extension, connect your Looking Glass to your computer, navigate to Facebook and open the viewer from the extension's popup menu. This will open a browser window on the Looking Glass display's screen in fullscreen mode.
Opening the Viewer
Once the viewer is open, the extension watches for any 3D Photo files being downloaded, so browse around Facebook looking for 3D Photos.  I recommend some of the Facebook groups dedicated to this topic like Facebook 3D Photos, and the Facebook 360 Community. As new photos are found, they are displayed on the Looking Glass, so you may see a few photos flash by. There are navigation controls to let you go back and look at the other photos.

Navigation

The extension allows you to navigate through the 3D photos that have been found in two ways, controls just below the Looking Glass display and controls within the extensions pop-up menu.
Navigation Controls and Focal Plane Adjustment
The navigation controls within the popup menu show you how many photos have been loaded and which photo you currently viewer.  The left and right arrow buttons allow you to navigate through the list, and the slider allows you to adjust the focal plane of the image. With the slider you can move into or out of the image, also known as dollying.

The Looking Glass display's buttons
Along with the in-browser navigation controls, you can also directly manipulate the photos using the buttons on the Looking Glass. The square and circle buttons allow you to dolly out of and into the photo, respectively. And the left and right buttons allow for navigating through the list of photos.




Comments

dean said…
This is a fascinating article that showcases how emerging technologies such as holographic displays, browser extensions, and three-dimensional imaging can be combined to create immersive visual experiences. The Chrome extension developed for the Looking Glass display demonstrates how 3D photos with depth information can be viewed without special glasses, opening exciting possibilities for interactive visualization and next-generation user interfaces. The project is an excellent example of innovation at the intersection of software development and immersive technologies.
June 21, 2026 3:00 AM
dean said…
Holographic visualization, depth mapping, and interactive 3D content are rapidly transforming the way users interact with digital media across entertainment, education, and visualization platforms. Students interested in developing immersive applications and innovative visualization systems can explore Creative Final Year Projects, where emerging technologies and unique application ideas are encouraged to solve real-world challenges creatively.
June 21, 2026 3:01 AM
dean said…
Building browser extensions, interactive user interfaces, and advanced visualization tools requires a strong understanding of modern web technologies and client-side programming. Learning these technologies through JavaScript Training Courses enables students and developers to create dynamic web applications, browser extensions, and immersive digital experiences using modern JavaScript frameworks and APIs.
June 21, 2026 3:01 AM
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