function slideSwitch(area) {
    var jQueryactive = jQuery(area+' img.active');

    if ( jQueryactive.length == 0 ) jQueryactive = jQuery(area+' img:last');

    var jQuerynext =  jQueryactive.next().length ? jQueryactive.next()
        : jQuery(area+' img:first');

    jQueryactive.addClass('lastActive');

    jQuerynext.css({opacity: 0.0})
        .addClass('active')
        .animate({opacity: 1.0}, 1000, function() {
            jQueryactive.removeClass('active lastActive');
        });
        
    if(area=="#center_image"){
      window.setTimeout( "slideSwitch('#right_image')", 3000 );
    }   
    
    if(area=="#left_image"){
      window.setTimeout( "slideSwitch('#center_image')", 3000 );
    }
    
    if(area=="#right_image"){
      window.setTimeout( "slideSwitch('#left_image')", 3000 );
    }    
}

jQuery(function() {
    //prepare data for slideshow - it needs DOM modification
    jQuery("#left_image ul").find("img").appendTo("#left_image");
    jQuery("#left_image").remove("ul")
    jQuery("#left_image img:first").addClass("active")

    jQuery("#center_image ul").find("img").appendTo("#center_image");
    jQuery("#center_image").remove("ul")
    jQuery("#center_image img:first").addClass("active")
    
    jQuery("#right_image ul").find("img").appendTo("#right_image");
    jQuery("#right_image").remove("ul")
    jQuery("#right_image img:first").addClass("active")

    window.setTimeout( "slideSwitch('#left_image')", 3000 );
});