Whether you love it or hate it, get ready for 3D HDTV
3D HDTV looks set to be the next big thing in the consumer market. Here's our guide to what you need to know to enhance your viewing pleasure.
What's next: 3D without glasses
For those of you unwilling to look silly in 3D glasses, there may still be a few options available, just don't expect them to arrive anytime soon or anywhere cheap. CES 2010 gave us a good look at lenticular lens technology, a glasses-free 3D option.
Like a lot of 3D technology, lenticular lens technology is not new; many of you can probably recall busting open a box of cereal or Cracker Jack to find that multi-image graphic that appeared to move.
The basis of the tech is the use of magnification to accentuate an image at a particular angle. If you combine two separate images with two different lenticular lenses, you can produce the necessary effect for a 3D television.
At CES, companies such as TCL, Magnetic3D, and Alioscopy demonstrated displays that used this technology.
Their sets promised up to nine different viewing angles, giving you a bit more wiggle room for viewing, and hopefully lending these kinds of TVs to real world uses.
2D viewing on these sets is still up in the air, according to Engadget, so they may still need some tweaking in that department before we can see a consumer product.
Otherwise, you can expect to see these sets popping up soon as billboards and for other commercial uses.
NEXT PAGE: Your mileage may vary
- Whether you love it or hate it, get ready for 3D HDTV
- 3D glasses compared
- 3D without glasses
- Your mileage may vary
Comments
Lew Warren said: David your article is great but anaglyph 3D redblue glasses for movies was ONLY for short subjects in the 20s and 30s Polarization was invented in the 40s so ALL movies in the 50s and since have been using polarized glassesAnaglyph 3D is still used for movies on TV because the pixel structure even for 1080p isnt detailed enough to pass on the polarization The new 3D HDTVs will have to use the shutter glasses for true colorProjected HDTV could be polarized and therefore use the polarized glasses This would be a good solution for bars and large home theatersAnaglyph 3D was used and still is used for printed material such as comic books
callum said: Eric you do realise people were and still are saying the same about HD and bluray and I imagine many said the same as colourNo they dont expect the public to keep up with them As you may remember when HDTVs came out they were very expensive As with virtually all new technology a group of enthusiasts buy them and over time they get cheaper and cheaper until now where HDTVs are pretty much standardThe same will probably happen with this A few will buy them upon release it slowly drops in price over the next few years then more people choose to buy them so they get even cheaper etc etc
V.R. said: In rural Pennsylvania we are in a tech black hole The only way to receive cable is to buy a dish the only way to get half way decent net speed is to buy another dish In fact since the networks went digital the only way to receive their broadcasts reliably is through the satellite dish The converter boxes work but the signals can not be trusted to stay strong 3D TV sounds incredible but it also sounds like more trouble than its worth for at least a few years
Eric Adolpho said: I can understand technology moving on but in my opinion this has got to be over the top The manufacturers have just pushed out the LED televisions giving better clarity in viewing standards and now this What cost for the recievers and then the costs for say 4 people in a household for the glasses Is this all about changing your television as often as changing a pair off trainers How long do these companies expect the public to keep up with them the cost in doing it is very high Are we all rich people
Mike O'Connor said: Read elsewhere that free-to-air TV doesnt have the necessary bandwidth 40 mbps to broadcast 3D-TV in High Definition although BluRay can provide the bandwidth Whats the truth about the situation