REVEALING HOW 3DTV TECHNOLOGY

Parallax barrier 3D TVs work by using tiny lenses which are integrated into the TV screen - layered liquid crystal displays. Each layer contains small stripes that hide specific pixels so that some can only be seen by your left eye, while other pixels can only be seen by your right. The result is the two images our eyes need to see to send a 3D image to our brains. With the lenses being built into the screen, there's no longer a need for 3D glasses. The biggest drawback is that parallax barrier only works if the viewer remains in the same spot, hence the reason why the early Toshiba sets are on the small side. Screen brightness is also a possible problem.
                      
Another method of delivering no glasses 3D TV is by the use of lenticular lenses , which are shaped and designed so that a different image is displayed to each eye depending on the viewing angle. This is achieved by building small lenses on to the display screen and then refracting the left and right images that are emitted. This gives slightly less reduction in brightness than parallax barrier displays and a wider range of viewing angles.

Head tracking works by using a webcam that locks on to a viewers eyes and adjusts the images sent from the display as the viewer moves so they see in 3D. Clearly this only works for one viewer at a time and seems best employed with small screen devices such as mobile 3D TVs or laptops. In fact a Toshiba 3D laptop has already been demonstrated using this technology.

The 3D TV Box is another recent development in 3D TV without glasses technology. The Hungarian company have demonstrated a Tridelity 65 inch LCD 3D autostereoscopic 3D combined with the prototype version of the Box. The technology works by taking a standard 3D image and transmitting it to the Box to be displayed. The 3D TV Box takes the image and projects it on to the TV display at the same depth you see when using 3D glasses on most 3D sets, and can take content from Internet, satellite, cable or any other services that currently offer streaming 3D content solutions.

There were some limits in viewing angles, which is to be expected, but in general the technology offers no worse results than any others seen so far and in fact does offer an improvement in quality to the extent that the depth of imaging at least equalled that achieved with glasses. There was an added bonus achieved in brightness because lasses are not being used.

For parallax barrier viewing to work, one of the drawbacks is that the angle from which you watch the screen and your distance from the screen can be critical. So, to get a full and high quality effect you need to be sitting directly and squarely in front of the TV at the optimum viewing distance.
                        
This is a difficult one to answer at this point. The 3D TV manufacturers are still working on perfecting the method, though it's likely to be some time before the technology is advanced enough to create massed numbers at an affordable price.The first no glasses sets are also on the small side, though advance reports from the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 suggest a number of the manufacturers have prototype models under development. Sony in particular plan to show glasses free 3D TVs in both LCD and  light emitting diode models.

One thing is for sure, the current boom in the interest in 3D TV in general is already fuelling the need to develop no glasses 3D TV. If the major manufacturers want to hold an advantage over their competitors, it'll be critical for them to be looking at the best ways to deliver.

With the arrival of the first commercially available Toshiba sets, the precedent is already set for the development of bigger screen 3D TVs which use parallax barrier or lenticular lenses. Major manufacturers are already displaying prototype larger screen models. If they can deliver these commercially at a reasonable price, and with the same quality that you get from TVs that require active shutter glasses, then the predicted explosion in the acceptance and uptake of 3D viewing, whether for TV or for 3D games, may well be guaranteed.

There are a couple of other developments to be aware of. One is the potential of sets that contain tiny cameras which track the viewers position. These would adjust the emitted images so that the viewer is always in a sweet spot, relieving the need for keeping in a specific position or at a certain distance when watching. In fact, one of the latest prototype 3D laptops from Toshiba already uses this technology by use of a built in webcam which locks on to your eyes when you approach the screen. Further development is needed as at this stage it does not deliver the same quality as you get with active or passive 3D glasses.

Further future potential lies in holographic technology which of course begins to take us away from viewing images on a screen and starts to focus on the objects viewed, bringing us into the realms of science fiction - the real thing played out right in front of you. This is a little further away!

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NETWORKS OF 3D TV

There's no doubting the massive potential that 3D TV has to bring a new dimension to home entertainment, but one of the obstacles so far has been a lack of 3D content for viewers to watch. That's all changing with the arrival in ever increasing numbers of 3D TV networks and the dedicated 3D TV channels that they carry. With the industry tacking the issues that wearing 3D glasses presents with developments of lighter and cheaper models - along with the potential of affordable mobile 3D TV and gaming devices like the Nintendo 3DS portable, and larger screen 3D TV without glasses models - it's falling on these new 3D TV networks to ramp up their 3D content programming.
                        And they're responding well to the challenge with both scheduled and 3D VOD video on demand services, with some of these operating 24 hours a day. The 3D TV channels are giving us 3D content that's been specially filmed for 3D viewing, in the form of well known 3D movies, sports broadcasts, and natural world programmes. These 3D TV networks are being operated by such well known names as Comcast, Sky, Verizon, and DirecTV. They carry the growing number of 3D TV channels and video on demand services such as ESPN 3D, n3D, DirecTV Cinema, and the new 3net partnership between Sony, IMAX, and Discovery. You can see a full list just above this article.

You'll see that a number of the 3D TV networks and channels I've mentioned are US centric, but the growth doesn't stop there. This is a truly global revolution in TV, with channels and networks throughout the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world either already running 3D content or with plans to join the party. By the end of 2010, viewers across the world had a choice of 3D content from up to 15 VOD channels, around a dozen 3D network TV channels (cable or satellite TV), and a number of internet 3D channels.

Coupled with an increasing choice in 3D TVs along with 3D Blu Ray players and availability of some stunning 3D imaging on Blu Ray Disc or 3D DVD, this explosion in content availability is at last beginning to show those of us wanting to buy a 3D TV that the time to get the credit card out is here. As an added bonus, don't forget that owning a 3D TV gets you the big screen chance to view 3D photos and play 3D games too.


For nearly 90 years, 3D viewing has been almost exclusively locked away in movie theaters. Every once in a while, a TV show might have a 3D episode as a special event, offering disposable 3D glasses at local convenience or electronics stores free with purchase. These major marketing events could usually drum up a bigger viewing audience, but they only lasted one night. The process for creating 3D, too, was often the now-outdated red and blue anaglyph conversion, which causes headaches over extended periods of time.

The success of new 3D films like Avatar, Clash of the Titans, and How to Train Your Dragon has reawakened our appetite for 3D content, though. Now audiences are clamoring for the same experience they get in theaters, but in the comfort of their own homes. The 3D TV manufacturers have heard their cries, and in response a bevy of 3D TV models were announced initially at the 2010 and then at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Shows. The 2011 show saw announcements from all of the manufacturers on their new planned line ups, clearly anticipating good growth in the market throughout the year.

Much of this growth in the market is expected because the technology in 3D TVs is improving all the time. The manufacturers know that as content availability grows and new 3D TV networks find get a footing, so the interest in 3D TV in general will grow exponentially. The capability of a number of 3D TVs to act as 2D to 3D converters with 2D to 3D conversion capability built in is another bonus.
                                

Sony Corp. brokered a deal in 2010 with IMAX and Discovery Communications, owner of the Discovery Channel and its networks, to launch a new, fully 3D TV network in 2011. This new 3D network - named 3net - will offer 3D content in some exciting areas, including space, exploration, adventure and natural history. The partnership also has stated content will not exclusively come from Sony, IMAX, or Discovery. Third-party 3D providers will also be able to participate.

Discovery Communications is set to handle the network services and rights, while Sony will manage advertising sales and content licensing. IMAX is on the deal to provide future 3D films, as well promote the network all its solely owned theaters across the nation. The company also will be providing its patented enhancement techniques and 3D technology for the production of ongoing 3D content.

The Discovery/Sony network won't be the only option, either. ESPN are already up and running with the ESPN 3D channel which launched in June 2010. This 3D TV network showed more than 85 live sporting events - including the World Cup plus some NBA and college basketball games - throughout 2010.

Access to the content from these new 3D networks is only through 3D TV sets, so you'll need to upgrade to see it. But this is only the beginning. Many industry insiders believe that if ESPN 3D continues to de well, it could lead to an ABC/Disney 3D TV network soon after. On the bright side, the technology  no longer requires the color-distorting technique of red and blue anaglyph layers. Instead, viewers are able to see all the 3D media in high definition, colour -correct splendor.

With a handful of 3D TV networks already up and running, and surely more on the way, the switch to 3D content at home has taken its first steps. In the past, 3D content was limited to a gimmick. Now that big TV content like sporting events, movies, and natural world programming is available in three dimensions, this new media wave is gearing up to sweep the television broadcast industry. Undoubtedly once the content is more readily available, the sale of 3D TV sets will rise, possibly leading to a whole new creative explosion in television.

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