I have now heard a few things about new 3D technology which made me decide to write this months future technologies article about it.
3D Television is already being showcased in public spaces and at exhibitions around the world.
The likes of Samsung and Mitsubishi have already sold over two million 3D TVs in the US, but they don't currently promote the fact that their TVs are 3D-enabled because there is no 3D content.
However, several 3D films have recently been released, so far all in the area of animation and aimed at a young audience (i.e. Ice Age 3) but will James Cameron's new 3D movie Avatar bring the technology to the mainstream?
Spaceships, aliens, all very futuristic...
3D gaming also looks to be the next big thing according to Blitz Games, following the release of their new game Invincible Tiger, a kung fu platform game. Invincible Tiger is the world's first true digital 3D console game - i'm not sure what 'true digital 3D' means, as opposed to 'false digital 3D' I assume?!
The game works in anaglyph 3D mode on all TVs - not just special 3D capable TVs.
Also, Sky announced last month that it will launch the UK's first 3D channel next year. It will be available via the current HD set-top boxes but in order to watch viewers will also require a new '3D Ready' TV, expected to be on sale in the UK next year. Sony, Panasonic and Phillips LG certainly seem to be ramping up their commitment to the new technology.
Music is also getting in on the act with performances being filmed in 3D - a great idea to differentiate yourself and introduce new financial models to replace illegal downloading.
Certainly for the cinema industry this could really inject some life back into the experience - especially while people don't have 3D TVs at home.
However it seems there is still some way to go towards standardising the technology and in particular exactly what kind of glasses will be needed to view 3D (seems to be lots of talk of shutter glasses whereby the lens shutters open and close 200 times a second working with a transmitter on top of the television to deliver slightly different images to each eye. And just think, one pair of glasses for each member of the family, at least... could get expensive.
3D video conferencing is also here, check out this very cool project that allows pseudo 3D video conferencing using only a single generic webcam at each end:
So when will our monitors / laptops / mobiles have 3D screens? Just a matter of time surely...
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