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As the viewing of 3D images in films, movies, and short clips developed, we needed to use (and still do) special 3D glasses to help our brains 'see' those 3D images on screen. The main types of 3D glasses are Anaglyph, Polarized or Passive, and Shutter glasses.
The last named shutter glasses (they work by automatically turning shutters on and off very quickly without you realizing) were the first models for use in the home which give the best 3D results - they're a world apart from the old cardboard and plastic 3D glasses of the 1950s, and different to the disposable passive glasses you get at 3D IMAX cinemas or at the latest regular cinema 3D movie showings.
These shutter glasses, or active glasses as they're also known, are currently expensive and will set you back up to around $100 a pair - though as the developments gather pace there's no doubt you'll find this price dropping significantly. Passive glasses are much cheaper, and this difference in pricing has contributed to a format war now taking place. Samsung, Sharp, and Panasonic are focussing on active glasses for their models. Toshiba, Phillips, and LG are betting on passive glasses winning out. Of the manufacturers, LG are the only one able to claim availability of 3D TVs using either of these glasses technologies.
The new types of passive glasses are built using what's known as FPR or Film Patterned Retarder technology. FPR works by optimizing the separation of images for our left and right eyes, and then converging them again through the passive 3D glasses to deliver the 3D image. Passive 3D TV models are on the increase, with image quality beginning to get close to the active glasses sets. The Vizio VT3D650SV in particular has received good reviews since its release. Reviews suggest there are no picture flicker issues, no ghosting, and no problems with glasses synchronisation. With the cheap cost of glasses, passive 3D TV sets look all set for a strong future.
One of the main issues surrounding 3D glasses has been the fact that specific manufacturers models only work with that manufacturers sets. Just recently Panasonic have announced a partnership with ExpanD to develop universal glasses that they hope will become the future standard.
For the near future we'll still need to use glasses with our specially designed home TVs, but developments in technology - particularly in the field of Parallax Barrier TV technology - promise to bring us true 'no glasses required' home 3D TVs over the next few years. To watch 3D TV without glasses you'll also still need some equipment to act as a source for content, and this is either delivered by the new generation 3D Blu Ray players or from content streamed by the 3D TV network operators.
Toshiba look to be going all out for 3D TV with intentions to be the first manufacturer to offer active, passive, and no glasses 3D TV models to the consumer market. Active models are already released, passive to follow this year, and 3D TV without glasses models of 40 inch size upwards are expected within a year. Toshiba already have two smaller screen no glasses models on sale in Japan only.
Recent developments in mobile 3D TV are particularly interesting, with LG releasing a Smartphone that delivers 3D images without glasses, and other TV manufacturers gradually turning attention to smaller screen models. In April 2011 LG Electronics planned to demonstrate a version of a 7 inch mobile 3D TV that doesn't require glasses to see the 3D imaging. The prototype model was due to be shown at the 2011 NAB show in Las Vegas which ran from April 9 to April 14 2011.
Just as a note, of course you can watch any 3D TV without glasses, but if you do that with any set that requires active or passive glasses then all you'll see is blurred images. Almost certainly you've tried that while wearing 3D glasses at the cinema.
The last named shutter glasses (they work by automatically turning shutters on and off very quickly without you realizing) were the first models for use in the home which give the best 3D results - they're a world apart from the old cardboard and plastic 3D glasses of the 1950s, and different to the disposable passive glasses you get at 3D IMAX cinemas or at the latest regular cinema 3D movie showings.
These shutter glasses, or active glasses as they're also known, are currently expensive and will set you back up to around $100 a pair - though as the developments gather pace there's no doubt you'll find this price dropping significantly. Passive glasses are much cheaper, and this difference in pricing has contributed to a format war now taking place. Samsung, Sharp, and Panasonic are focussing on active glasses for their models. Toshiba, Phillips, and LG are betting on passive glasses winning out. Of the manufacturers, LG are the only one able to claim availability of 3D TVs using either of these glasses technologies.
The new types of passive glasses are built using what's known as FPR or Film Patterned Retarder technology. FPR works by optimizing the separation of images for our left and right eyes, and then converging them again through the passive 3D glasses to deliver the 3D image. Passive 3D TV models are on the increase, with image quality beginning to get close to the active glasses sets. The Vizio VT3D650SV in particular has received good reviews since its release. Reviews suggest there are no picture flicker issues, no ghosting, and no problems with glasses synchronisation. With the cheap cost of glasses, passive 3D TV sets look all set for a strong future.
One of the main issues surrounding 3D glasses has been the fact that specific manufacturers models only work with that manufacturers sets. Just recently Panasonic have announced a partnership with ExpanD to develop universal glasses that they hope will become the future standard.
For the near future we'll still need to use glasses with our specially designed home TVs, but developments in technology - particularly in the field of Parallax Barrier TV technology - promise to bring us true 'no glasses required' home 3D TVs over the next few years. To watch 3D TV without glasses you'll also still need some equipment to act as a source for content, and this is either delivered by the new generation 3D Blu Ray players or from content streamed by the 3D TV network operators.
Toshiba look to be going all out for 3D TV with intentions to be the first manufacturer to offer active, passive, and no glasses 3D TV models to the consumer market. Active models are already released, passive to follow this year, and 3D TV without glasses models of 40 inch size upwards are expected within a year. Toshiba already have two smaller screen no glasses models on sale in Japan only.
Recent developments in mobile 3D TV are particularly interesting, with LG releasing a Smartphone that delivers 3D images without glasses, and other TV manufacturers gradually turning attention to smaller screen models. In April 2011 LG Electronics planned to demonstrate a version of a 7 inch mobile 3D TV that doesn't require glasses to see the 3D imaging. The prototype model was due to be shown at the 2011 NAB show in Las Vegas which ran from April 9 to April 14 2011.
Just as a note, of course you can watch any 3D TV without glasses, but if you do that with any set that requires active or passive glasses then all you'll see is blurred images. Almost certainly you've tried that while wearing 3D glasses at the cinema.
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