Video Eyewear such as this set from Vuzix could be the next big thing for 3D
There’s been quite a bit in the news in the last few days about 3D Television – mainly on the back of the news that BSkyB in the UK have been testing 3D transmissions. But what I want to talk about is 3D on Mobile…
Now, for those of you that are not familiar with the world of 3D, and can only remember the red/green glasses that were used in films like “Jaws 3D” at the Cinema, things have moved on a bit since then – kind of.
There are now two ways to achieve 3D – either through what is called “Polarizing glasses”, or alternatively direct from a special TV/screen – though the latter is in the order of 6x more expensive, if current 3DTV set costs are taken as a yardstick.
The polarizing glasses now, as oppose to back in the day, are not coloured-lenses, but instead clear lenses that deflect/adjust the picture to each eye to give the effect of depth in to what is normally a flat picture. In addition, the “source” (be it a TV or Cinema screen) still has to be made “3D-compliant”. In all cases of 3D video delivery, the cameras which have made the original recording ALSO have to be 3D enabled – actually it’s two cameras, to capture the two signals (one for each eye) that are needed.
So reviewing we see we need to – change the cameras at source, the editing equipment for the content, the TV set / Cinema screen, and finally the viewer’s perception (with or without the glasses). Sounds like a lot to do, doesn’t it?
Well, yes – but luckily I’ve had the opportunity to see 3D demos, both on a TV, and also on some (mobile) video glasses. The TV was Phillips’ invention (see more here), and doesn’t require any glasses because the display panel has been modified “trick” the eyes in to seeing depth. I was only watching a demo video, but the effect is definitely there.
(Note: probably one thing that may not be obvious is that 3DTV gives the effect of more depth, rather than things projecting out toward you – so on the TV, objects floating in space seemed to be ‘inside’ the TV)
With the (mobile) video glasses (courtesy of Vuzix) I saw more content – this time of some animated monkeys throwing things at each other/you – and this was equally impressive – really clever application of technology for a markedly different viewing experience.
So here’s the thing for Mobile then – unless device manufacturers were to change the screens on their devices to have 3D-visible technology in them (not beyond the realms of possibility), then it would need something like the video glasses to achieve the effect. And given one of the solutions for 3DTV generally is wearing polarizing glasses anyway, this might well be ther way forward.
Ultimately the thing that will decide it is the content – if there is compelling content for people to consume, then they will want to have new (and better) user experiences with it – if enough people like it, then it becomes mass-market. Disappointingly for right now, it seems like only kids films are being shot in 3D – but you imagine how nerve-shredding a decent horror film would be, shot in 3D? Something like an “Alien vs Predator 3D” with ultra-gore moments would be fantastic demonstrator in how to use this nascent, yet exciting technology.
Give us decent 3D content, and people will want to see it – on TV, Cinema, or Mobile.