Small, but "Sharp" screen

The one common goal of the 3D industry these days is to get rid of those goofy glasses. Thus far we have seen several solutions. One is a screen with either one or several "sweet" spots, allowing viewers to experience 3D only when sitting in the correct area. Another is a computer screen that uses a built-in camera to monitor the user's eyes and adjust the 3D experience.

Now, Sharp is adding another alternative according to ITProPortal. The Japanese company is poised to release a mobile 3D screen that doesn't require glasses, provided that the user holds the device within a foot of the eyes. The screen could be highly desired by mobile gamers, and some believe the screen will be on 10 to 20 percent of mobile devices by year end.

"Sky" is the limit

Sky, a British broadcasting company, will launch its 3D television channel on April 3, with a football match between Chelsea and Manchester United.

The PC Advisor UK is reporting that over 1,000 public places in the UK and Ireland such as pubs and clubs have signed up for the channel. Private residents can also order the channel, provided they have a Sky HD box, a compatible television and 3D glasses.

3D televisions have yet to hit the market, so one has to wonder if the technology is a bit ahead of the practicality. Sony, Samsung and Panasonic are expected to start offering 3D televisions this month, but that gives avid sports fans in Britain precious little time to setup their entertainment room (let alone open a beer) before the April 3 game.

In other 3D news, Warner Brothers could be releasing the film "300" in 3D. Should it be retitled with a larger number if that's the case? "303" perhaps? I think so.

Pocket 3D

Whoever said 3D technology is too darn inconvenient is about to eat their words.

Micromax has developed a cell phone that supports 3D. The phone is intended for heavy gaming, and therefore is appropriately named Gamolution. It is yet to be released, and the company has not set a date for when we could be carrying this device in our pockets.

The phone's screen is only 2.4 inches, so it will be interesting to see what the 3D experience is truly like on such a small screen. There is no mention of the need for glasses, but that doesn't mean they are not necessary. Like every other great 3D idea, the optical requirements of the technology (glasses) could be the downfall of this phone.

The phone comes with a motion sensor and a camera. The camera, however, does not shoot in 3D. I'm sure someone is working on that feature.

http://www.micromaxinfo.com/products/g4.html

3D without the glasses

Admittedly, there are few people out there that wouldn't want there content in 3D. The big obstacle, however, is those funny looking (and feeling) glasses.

3D technology could already have changed the way you use your laptop or watch television, if not for those dorky goggles. Glasses are necessary to split the image coming from the sceen (selecting which image each eye sees). That could all change, though.

PC World is reporting on two technologies that could do away with the need to have glasses. One of the technologies uses a panel of tiny lenses that splits the image at the screen, and projects it out to the viewer. This idea has been around for awhile, but viewers were required to sit in a particular place "the sweet spot" to see 3D. Now, Sunny Ocean Studios has developed a panel that projects to 64 different areas.

The other alternative is Germany's SeeFront, which projects to a single position, but a video camera tracks the viewer's eyes and calibrates the 3D to where the viewer is. This seems best fit for laptops or personal screens.

One thing is for sure, if these technologies take off, we won't just have a life filled with more 3D, we'll look a little less nerdy too.

League of Extraordinary 3D Content

Look out Academy Awards. The accolade filmmakers may all soon be pining for are those given by the new International 3D Society. The society was formed less than a month ago, according to the Los Angeles Times, by studio executives, heads of post-production houses and even an optometrist.

It's no surprise that "Avatar" was named the best live-action 3D feature at the society's inaugural Lumiere Awards at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. "Up," "Partly Cloudy," and "G-Force" also won awards on the night.

The society is aimed at helping professionals in the industry, as well as celebrating the 3D films they create. Their goal, as stated on their Website, is to advance "the achievement of professionals working in the arts and technologies of Stereoscopic 3D."

You can visit their Website here: http://www.international3dsociety.com/

3D Fashion?

If you thought 3D technology was being stretched too far by being used in television and video games, how about fashion shows? Fashion house Burberry in London is using 3D footage to screen its fashion shows to cities like New York, LA, Dubai and Paris.

Viewers of these shows will wear the all-too-recognizable 3D glasses and watch as models appear to pop out at them, allowing views across the country to inspect even the finest details of the fabric.

If this sounds a bit like the "beaming" technology in Star Wars that Princess Leia uses to record herself, you are right. Look for the fashion shows to roll into theses cities autumn/winter of this year.

A New Dimension of Gaming

Critics of 3D technology are probably stuffing their foot in their mouth, because every day that passes seems to bring a new announcement of the technology being used. Today, 3D is entering the realm of arcade games.

Konami is displaying a Metal Gear arcade game this week in Japan. The game not only looks 3D to the user, but the action reacts to head movements, thanks to 3D glasses with an attached camera.

I have heard many audiences relate the "Avatar experience" to being more like a movie than a video game, and so what is to be the feel of a video game in 3D? Are we getting one step closer to emulating real life? Perhaps...