3D: Is this the future of home entertainment?
Judging by the number of demos here at CES, we’d have to say that the family TV is in for a serious makeover some time in the next few years…
Judging by the number of demos here at CES, we’d have to say that the family TV is in for a serious makeover some time in the next few years…
The evolution of the TV at home has been one of constantly improving picture and sound, with the latest home theatres offering superb quality in both. Naturally, electronics companies are looking for the next big enhancement that will send you back to your local tech store, armed with your credit card.
Their next big enhancement, from what we’ve seen here at CES, is 3D. Every notable player including Panasonic, LG, Sony, Samsung just to name a few, has been showing off prototype 3D TV systems. Some require special glasses and a few simply require you to sit a specific distance from the TV in order to get the full 3D effect.
You can understand why these companies seem convinced that 3D is the way of the future. When done well, the effect is dazzling. LG’s booth this year included a 3D theatre which used a projected 3D image similar to what you may have seen at a 3D IMAX movie. The clip they showed from U2 in 3D was spectacular – when Bono jumps from one platform to another, you’d swear he was just about to land in the theatre, not remain on the screen.
That particular example used special glasses, but I’ve seen some other kinds known as "autostereoscopic" that don’t require glasses, and the effect is even more dramatic.
But it also has me wondering: do we really want and/or need 3D at home?
Even as I type these words, I remember someone once asking the same question years ago when shown one of the first plasma TVs. Do we really need a 50 inch TV? The answer has been a resounding YES, given that sales of HDTVs have been increasing steadily and show no signs of abating.
That said, I’m not convinced it’s the same thing with 3D. On one hand, I really believe that every TV program or DVD or video game in significantly enhanced when displayed on large, wide, high-resolution set. Can the same be said for 3D? No doubt there are times when 3D increases your enjoyment of content – just ask anyone who has seen the 3D version of recent movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth. But a lot of our video content doesn’t need 3D to be enjoyed. Sitcoms, cooking shows, talk shows, news broadcasts – if they were 3D it might even distract you from the main purpose of the program.
So I’d like to propose this to any of the manufacturers that might be reading: When you bring these new 3D TVs to market, find a way to turn the 3D effect on and off. As much as I’ll enjoy watching the next installment of the Bourne or James Bond franchises in 3D, I’m quite content to watch my Frasier re-runs in good ol’, flat, 2D.
What’s your take? Can’t wait for 3D to arrive in your living room, or perfectly happy with flat picture?
Filed Under: Consumer Electronics Show > Home Entertainment > Television
Nice nice, but i think so few can afford this, so expensive as i can see….
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Hologram TV.Thats what i'm waiting for.
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3D movies are being made for theatre release and new digital cinema projectors there are helping bring the cost of 3D projection down. So later if you want to rent a 3D movie what are you going to play it on – a 3D TV of course.
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3D tv? No thanks. I have real life for that.
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You can't be serious. You really wouldn't want to watch frasier in 3d? It's the natural progression. Everything has to get better, or the kids will get sick of it. I'm not all that old yet, but I understand it just as well. Even I'm sick of regular TV (and HDTV) and I barely have any time to watch it.
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Very nice!!! I like 3D Pamela Andersons!
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hahahahaha @ Borat!! genius thinking.
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The one reason I am heavily excited for 3D TV's is what a read a little while back pertaining to 3D and video games, with 3D they said that with multi player games each player using his own set of glasses will see the full screen and not a split screen like we are accustomed to.
Now I am assuming they mean for 2 players as of now but even with that co-op games that split the screen will no longer do so and instead everyone will have a full screen to themselves, that is something that excites me, so that wicked games like Resistance 2 don't feel the need to tank the co-op main story because of the old split screen.
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I hope not. I was born with only vision in my left eye. I have an enlarged retna in my right eye, and therefore can not see from it.
I have never been able to experience the pleasure of 3D.
That is unfortunate for me.
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I've wanted good 3D since I was a kid. I think it will add one more layer of realism (if done well) to our entertainment – making our TV, movies and games more immersive.
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i went to Disney Land and experienced awsome quality glasses. The glasses never had the red and blue and werent made from carboard, they were a nice plastic and had dark plastic lens. i hope they make 3d glasses better then before with the tvs
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I don't feel the need for 3-D televisions. It makes no sense to me, the plasma and LCD screens are good enough. If we want to watch a 3-D movie, we can just go to the iMax theatres. So…. I hope 3-D just stays in movie theatres, that's the purpose of it.
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As hard as it is to believe that 3D will catch on as HD has, eventually it will. I remember saying a few years ago, "you don't NEED HD". And now after having it, it's hard to watch anything NOT in HD. Just like HD, once the novelty of 3D wears off, it will become the norm. Then we will have to move on to the next best thing. Virtual reality?!
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Can't wait.. will be awesome to watch a lot of the new movies as well as the older ones, such as star wars, and star trek in 3D. and of course for any video gamers out there, I think playing in 3D would be an awesome improvement in the gaming experience.
An Imax theater was mentioned, which is all good, except that they won't play all the movies people may want to see, not to mention, it would be kinda hard to go to an Imax to play video games.
It will be a major improvement in my opinion when we get the 3D tv in my living room.
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I have a 72" DLP and is 3D ready. Now with a tv like this, it is definately worth buying a 3D package. I have looked into this and found that it is an expense of about $400 (for 2 glasses with an extra 2 purchased) TriDef is the software and the movies are played from a pc.
I'm respectfully going to invest in this to increase family movie pleasure…
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Because I've never been able to see 3D in any of the movies out there this product means nothing to me.
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Does anyone but me find these electronic companies slightly manipulative? Im not trying to be a downer but people all over the owlrd are dying because we care more about whether or not our HDTV's are considered outdated than whether or not our planet is experiencing a total meltdown (which it is). I know this is just an article and not everything can be doom and gloom but it would be nice if there was some reality woven into the message. The reality being right now suck it up ENJOY your HDTV for at least a few more years and pull your credit card out for things like UNICEF and FREE THE CHILDREN.
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It's exelent idea , but what about cost ???
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If you people that posted how it will be great to see all the movies and tv pgms in 3D You have to remember that these movies and pgms have to be shot in 3D in order to play that way. That is unless Turner can find a way to do it while they are colouring the old movies.
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I think 3D would be a good experience. I agree with you that certain shows don't need to be in 3D except for the cooking shows, I think it would be cool to see the food they are making in 3D, and add Smellovision , as Emiril says, and that would like being in the studio audience right from home, lol.
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