SPECIFICATION OF 3D TV

                                  

The DVB Technical Module has given its approval to the DVB-3DTV specification.

The Phase 1, frame compatible, system will allow viewers to keep and use their current set-top box, in line with plans put forward by broadcasters including BSkyB and Canal+, though requiring them to purchase a new 3D compatible television display.

Work in the technical module has been led by BSkyB’s David Daniels, and follows the establishment of the first set of commercial requirements that were prepared and agreed last July.

DVB commercial experts are currently discussing a Phase 2 system that may be needed to meet other broadcast requirements, such as having a 2D version of the same programme available as part of the 3D channel. There may also be a need for viewers to be able to adjust picture depth for maximum ‘eye comfort’.

The majority of interest in the Phase 1 system has come from pay-TV broadcasters, in Europe and the United States. Phase 2 is also attracting interest from the free-to-air broadcasters in the US market and some pay-TV operators. Tests of a DVB Phase 2 system are currently taking place in Korea.

“There are circumstances where each of the formats gives viewers the best quality and that’s why we need all of them,” explained David Wood, chair of the DVB’s commercial module.

Speaking at last week’s DTG 3D event, Wood said there were also plans for a Service Compatible option within Phase 1. This involved signaling information on frame cropping and aspect ratio that would instruct the receiver to ‘de-anamorphize’ one of the stereo images and output it as a normal 2D image.

Formal Steering Board approval and publication of the standard is expected towards the end of February.

In case plans by AMD and a slew of other tech vendors planning to showcase 3D Blu-ray compatible products at CES wasn't a tip-off, the updated specifications are done. The key details? First, that the Blu-ray Disc Association has chosen the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec to store 3D, so that even though it is now providing a full 1080p frame for each eye, it will only require about 50% more storage space compared to the 2D version, and all discs will be fully backwards compatible, in 2D, on existing players. Better than backwards compatibility, the PlayStation 3 will be forwards compatible with the new discs -- a new HDTV setup (the spec promises to work with plasmas, LCDs or projectors equally well) with IR emitters and glasses will still be necessary. According to the PR (after the break) we can expect Blu-ray 3D-stickered products in 2010, our only advice is to keep those responsible for the Cowboys Stadium abomination far, far away from it.

The red/blue glasses are the most primitive type of 3D. The type used by NVIDIA GeForce 3D requires a 120 Hz monitor, and there are also other types that will require a special monitor, like the Zalman 3D ones. There's even one in the works that won't require any glasses at all.

Most are using what's called Alternate-frame sequencing with special "shutter" type glasses. What this really means is that alternate frames display the image for one eye and then the other, and the glasses shutter quickly enough so that it blocks out the image for the correct eye at the correct time, thus producing a 3D effect. To support this, the monitor/TV will have to have 120 Hz refresh at least. With standard 60 Hz monitor, each eye is effectively only seeing a 30 Hz picture, which is too flickery to be comfortable. Then there's also the yet unavailable HDMI 1.4, which adds 3D specifications, and it's quite likely that for a TV to be truly "3D Ready" in the future, it will have to support HDMI 1.4 as well.

I believe IMAX 3D uses two types, one is the shutter type mentioned above, and the other is polarization where the glasses are passive, but the screen itself needs to be a special silver screen with two projectors in place.

While we wait for manufacturers of 3D TVs to get together and agree on a standard so we don’t need different glasses for every different set, Samsung is at least making things easier for four-eyed dorks like me. You will be able to order prescription 3D specs to watch Samsung 3DTVs, without having to pile up pairs of spectacles in a nightmare of layered lenses.

The specs will be made to order, are available in different styles and, as you can see in the picture, they’re actually pretty stylish. Samsung says that the glasses will take around a week to make. Finally, a pair of 3D-spex that I can wear down to my local bar to watch Barcelona playing in 3D on the big-screen. Well, as long as my local has a Samsung screen, I guess.

I imagine the future of these glasses. They have polarized, LCD shutters in them, right? What’s to stop the electronics inside automatically adjusting the amount of light they let through when I’m not watching TV? That way, I would need just one pair, for seeing, sunbathing and 3D-movie-watching.

Posted in: specification of 3d television