Will 3D TV Give HDTV Competition?

News
Will 3D TV Give HDTV Competition?
New sets could be available in two to three years.
By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2006) -- It's taken High-Definition TV nearly 10 years to catch on with the American consumer. But now the ultra-clear picture technology may be getting some competition.

Philips, Toshiba and Sharp are all developing new televisions that will display 3D images on screen. Philips says it should have 3D sets on the market in two to three years.

Unlike past 3D TV features, the sets will not require special glasses to view the effect. And, according to a report by NY1, a New York-based TV news service, the 3D images are eye-popping.

"You're going to have to trust me when I tell you that in person, on this particular TV, these dice really look as if they're floating about a foot in front of the set," a NY1 reporter said in a recent broadcast, referring to a 3D image which displayed a pair of dice rolling on a table.

Joe Swillens of Philips 3D Solutions told the news service that 3D TV is a combination of advanced technology and old-fashioned brain trickery.

"What is happening, technically, is that the lens is basically making sure the two eyes of us are seeing different parts of the screen," said Swillens. "So the lens makes sure the left eye sees a certain set of pixels and the right eye another set of pixels and if the electronics makes sure the right images are there, the brain does the rest and creates a 3D experience."

NY1 notes that the 3D displays are now being sold to businesses for slightly more than $12,000. But consumer models, which can switch back and forth between 3D and 1080p high-def, could be just a few years away.

Swillens says video gamers could be the initial target audience for 3D TVs.

"The advantage of that is that the game is already 3D but at the end the picture is shown on a 2D display," says Swillens. "On our product, you can experience it in 3D and have a much more immersive experience. So in that sense, we believe games will be one of the first factors to bring this forward."

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Phillip Swann is president and publisher of TVPredictions.com. He has been quoted in dozens of publications and broadcast outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Financial Times, The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter. He can be reached at swann@tvpredictions.com or at 703-505-3064.

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