Article: Are you ready to go crazy for 3D?

Ever since Avatar re-introduced 3D technology to consumers, it has been one of the buzz word that gets attached almost everything possible. Now that 3D movies had picked up, TV manufacturers like Sony, LG, Panasonic and Toshiba wanted to capitalize on the craze and launched 3DTVs.

While it was kind of a compromise to pay the premium, wear glasses and watch some 3D movies that are worth it (there have not been many good ones), but to buy a 3DTV and wear 3D glasses at home to watch them was ridiculous. It would have been adopted, if the technology was going to be highly immersive to compel the consumers to flock for it. Instead we had a limited success on the quality of 3D, more importantly lack of content that questioned the reason to have 3DTV in the first place.

To make things worse, the 3DTVs introduced in 2010 were all based on active shutter glasses, which meant that that you need to wear proprietary glasses that cost $150 minimum per glass. If you wanted to showcase your new toy in a party or for a group, you need to ask the group to take turns, unless you could afford a glass for everyone.

People who have seen some live sports content over 3DTV are convinced that there is nothing like it. If we get more content like sports, movies and may be series like "Planet Earth" in 3D, then the content can definitely allow some users to consider. In a market, where LCD cost has fallen to all time lows and made everyone recently purchase atleast one LCD TV recently, it is a huge up-sell to make them go for another huge investment of around $1000 for 3DTV and then additional for accessories.

Since the adoption owing to price and content has been slow, companies like Sharp, Toshiba and Sony are looking for alternate approach where the 3D can be based on glasses free Lenticular technology. This is not a new technology, but has been around in making 3D photo frames and commercial displays, but has not been widely adopted for TV and at such large screen sizes. The technology is for now good for small screens and less users, as it has a lower viewing angle (Sweet Spot) to get the best effect of 3D.

Talking of 3D, I saw this video published in Engadget that seemed promising initially and then went crazy at a different level. All I could say after watching the video was, if this is the only way to go glasses free, then I will take the glasses.

Some of the technology that are being demonstrated are really promising and finally it will the move the glasses free (no craziness), added content with rich 3D that is likely to make this a good investment. Till then the movie theaters are good enough for watching 3D

Author: Vinod