APPLYING 3D TECHNOLOGY
In this series we will be exploring "What is 3D: from many angles". We will include the technologies that allow it. And as always, the view will be through the primary lens of: "Applying 3D Technology"
So please join us and follow this new series on the Applying Technology Blog.
3D IS HOT right now.
3D (Stereoscopic) media has been around a while. The StereoScope itself was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838. So the idea of looking at 3D media is nearly 175 years old!
Much more recently, I was postulating that 2010 might be the tipping point for 3D. No one is more excited than I am that it is seems to be happening.
- Major film spectacles are releasing in 3D and the capability is becoming common in more and more multiplex theaters.
- Most major home-video display manufacturers are rolling out 3D capable models.
- Sport media, a major driver for many home entertainment technologies is getting ready to rock.
- Video gaming, whose profound effect on high-technology cannot be overstated, is taking a giant push into this arena.
- Next week's SID (Society For Information Display) convention is Seattle has a major 3D theme.
I based the above prediction on my experience as the CEO of Panoram Technologies, where we build more than 120 stereoscopic immersive data visualization facilities between 1997 and 2007.
These "wrap-around" immersive rooms for 6-10 people were capable of rendering real-time 3D computer graphics from super-computers. You have probably seen them on the oil company commercials.
In 2005, I also had a chance to write, produce and direct a high-resolution 3D museum film. This provided a great deal of insight into the processes, challenges, methods and benefits of producing media in the medium.
BOTTOM LINE
- Why is 3D HOT NOW!?
- Why should you care?
- Do you need 3D?
- Do you want 3D?
- and of course, HOW DO YOU APPLY 3D?
It's Theo exploring the many dimensions of APPLYING 3D TECHNOLOGY.
3D is hot right now because Hollywood thought that it would be a reason to get people back into theaters.
ReplyDeleteNow the consumer electronics people think it's a way to get everyone to re-buy their TV's.
I think they are both going to fail.
It's too fabulous to be able to watch movies on your own big screen TV, and the time between theatrical showing and home release will get shorter and shorter.
And 3D isn't compelling enough to get people to replace perfectly good HD sets with 3D capable ones. It's not going to be nearly the same draw as HD was. Instead, this will happen slowly as existing TV's need replacing.
Mark: Thanks for reading the blog. I agree with a number of your comments. It will be slower than industry wants, but I don't think it will fail. I was at E3 a couple of weeks ago - and gaming is VERY compelling in 3D. The gamers were most enthusiastic. I heard plans being made all over about making the switch.
ReplyDeleteAnd remember it was gamers that drove the cost of high end graphics down from an SGI Onyx to a $300.00 card!
Personally - I don't plan on wearing glasses when I relax at home for a great movie on my amazing flat screen Blue Ray equipped surround sound system!
3D on personal displays is a whole other matter - Autostereoscopic displays on phones and pads is coming up... I have played with it and it is compelling!
Theo
Theo: I don't see how they can do useful autostereo until the dot pitch is smaller than people can see. Every autostereo display I've seen so far has been really compromised by having to give up half the pixels horizontally.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the new iPhone is only the second display I've seen in which I simply cannot see the dots.
Maybe we're getting close.