3D displays, innovative handheld devices and green technologies were some of the many highlights at this year’s international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Rarely has the event earned such a spotlight in mainstream media, but announcements from Imax, Sony, ESPN and Discovery proved that 3D technology was out of developmental stages and ready to be employed in new, purely 3D television channels.
3D television caught the eye of all CES onlookers.
The timing for this announcement couldn’t have been better for these pioneer companies: Shortly before CES, James Cameron’s Avatar surpassed 1 billion in sales, proving that 3D technology was worth the expense for millions of consumers. In Las Vegas, the message was that this technology won’t just be for smash-hit films decades in the making. Clearly, 3D technology wasn’t just a viable possibility for the home theater; Channels were already underway to stream 24 hours per day of 3D content into any household with a basic cable subscription, and one of the latest 3D-ready television sets.
Sony, LG and Samsung were among those showcasing their new 3D TVs. These new displays require a pair of polarized glasses to view the content in 3D. Exponentially better than the old red-and-blue cardboard glasses punched out of magazines, these hi-tech 3D lenses display slightly different images to you left and right eyes, giving the illusion of depth to the content.
New, polarized 3D glasses. Slightly less dorky, exponentially more powerful.
Some of the more expensive models served 60 images to each eye per second, which makes for smooth motion, clear image and jaw-dropping picture depth. Those lucky enough to view these new displays witnessed characters, objects and effects literally leaping off the screen. Some viewers dodged baseballs that seemed to race out at them, while others flinched as hand grenades appeared to roll inches from their bodies and shower them with sparks and metal.
It seems that it’s no longer a matter of if 3D televisions will become to new standard, it’s only a matter of when. This begs the question: Will the new channels catalyze the sales of 3D displays, or will the screens be the factor that pulls us into the 3rd dimension?
#1 by Jeff on February 9, 2010 - 7:03 pm
Quote
Avatar is now well over 1 billion in sales, which further proves that 3D entertainment is marketable.