When you are watching TV, you suddenly find: Jack the Ripper, the serial killer from over 100 years ago in Britain, doesn’t appear in the dark corners of London during his crimes, but in your living room; the “Flying Man” Usain Bolt breaks away from the race track and “drifts” past you like a gust of wind; massive dinosaurs are resurrected from ancient times, charging towards you aggressively... Whether modern or ancient, human or animal, they all seem “unable to bear the loneliness” and “run out” of the TV screen. But don’t be afraid; this is just the effect of 3D television. Today, with the rapid development of technology, 3D TV is expected to enter homes as early as 2010.
Entering Homes Next Year
According to reports from the British Daily Mail and other media, Sony recently announced that the company will launch 3D televisions in 2010. Sony CEO Howard Stringer stated that Sony not only plans to sell Bravia 3D televisions but also intends to make Sony Vaio laptops, PlayStation 3 gaming consoles, and Blu-ray players compatible with 3D technology. Stringer also remarked: “3D is moving toward the mass market. Just as high-definition technology faced challenges several years ago, current 3D technology still needs to overcome many hurdles. However, the 3D train is already on the tracks, and Sony is ready to drive it into the home.”
The Next Big Thing in Television
The British Financial Times commented that Sony’s massive push into 3D TV will provide more opportunities for 3D to become mainstream. As Alworth, Vice President of Time Warner, put it, 3D will be the next big event in the television industry.
Alworth stated: “Many people have already expressed great interest in this 3D market. More importantly, the content of 3D TV programs is more diverse and realistic, which will surely attract more viewers.” Additionally, she expects that 3D TV programs could achieve popularity in the United States by 2011.
Taking Off the Bulky Glasses
Alice, who recently experienced a 3D movie, said: “Having to wear those weird glasses to see the movie is really not satisfying. Moreover, the glasses are so heavy that they make me feel very uncomfortable.” With the continuous refinement of 3D technology, 3D televisions moving into home living rooms will no longer have these disappointing flaws. It is reported that the upcoming 3D televisions will allow for a glasses-free 3D experience. This means that when viewers want to watch TV, they no longer need to put on those bulky glasses and can watch directly with the naked eye.
Numerous Challenges
\star Prone to “Eye Fatigue”
Health and safety are also urgent issues that 3D stereoscopic display needs to overcome. Research results show that when viewers watch stereoscopic images, their eyes move back and forth rapidly, which can easily cause eye fatigue.
\star Not Cheap
It seems that it will not be easy for 3D TV to truly enter ordinary households; the high price is enough to deter common people. Although Sony did not mention the price of 3D televisions recently, analysts predict that early 3D televisions could be worth thousands of dollars. It is reported that digital high-definition (HD) televisions with the capability to receive 3D programs currently cost between $1,000 and $5,000 per unit in the United States.
3D in Other Countries
Sony’s decision to vigorously develop 3D technology has undoubtedly injected a shot of adrenaline into the 3D TV industry. Eutelsat has been operating an experimental free-to-air 3D TV channel for the past 18 months. British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) recently announced plans to launch a 3D TV channel in the UK next year. DirecTV and Discovery Channel in the United States are also supporters of 3D technology.
Trivia: What is 3D TV?
3D is the abbreviation for Three-Dimensional, referring to three-dimensional graphics. Because human eyes observe objects from slightly different angles, they can distinguish the distance of objects and produce stereoscopic vision. 3D stereoscopic television utilizes this principle to separate the images seen by the left and right eyes. The stereoscopic display effect of 3D LCD TVs is achieved by adding a special precision lenticular lens screen to the LCD panel. This independently sends encoded 3D video images to the user’s left and right eyes, allowing users to experience a 3D sensation with the naked eye without the need for 3D glasses, while remaining compatible with 2D images.
(Zong He)
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