Pros and Cons of Three Different Display Methods For Getting a 3D Image
The majority of the current crop of 3D LCD TVs show 3D images by displaying two slightly different pictures on screen one after the other. Each eye gets to see the correct image by way of glasses that rapidly block and unblock the image so each eye only gets to see one image at a time. The world has depth because each of our eyes see it from a slightly different perspective. When the two slightly different images are shown in this way the brain is fooled into seeing an image with some depth to it.
The inherent problem with this technology is that first off you need expensive glasses and second you need a TV with a high refresh or scan rate. If you have a TV that is more than 4 or 5 years it is most likely not 3D capable. Once you have the TV you then need to get glasses compatible for your model. Unfortunately most families have at least 3 members. With my family I need to buy 6 pairs. Basically I'm investing almost the same amount of money spent on the TV on the shutter glasses just so we can all watch movies at the same time.
Luckily technology never stays still and we are already seeing new TVs available which can possibly eliminate the extra expense of glasses. New technology always costs more but TVs are becoming available that use polarized light to display the images. This is the same technique used in the movie theaters but on a smaller scale. The two pictures are projected onto the screen with polarized light. When the correct glasses are worn each eye only gets to see one picture each, both taken from a slightly different perspective. Refresh and scan rates are not as crucial as both images are shown at the same time.
For mostly solo viewing you can purchase LCD screens for 3D viewing without glasses. Through clever and secret use of technology the LCD screen is capable of displaying the two different images in such a way that each eye only sees its correspondingly correct image and all without glasses. Due to the nature of the way this works it currently cannot be done for a large audience or a widely dispersed one as in a movie theater. Each viewer has to be in the correct spot in order for each eye to get its correct image. If the viewer is outside of this sweet spot then they will not get the 3D effect.
Consequently it may be a while before we see this glasses free 3D technology in large TVs and projectors but it is available in the new Nintendo <a href="http://www.3dsgamesystem.com/">3DS game system</a>. As there is usually an audience of one with a personal gaming system then this technology is an excellent way to bring 3D gaming to the masses.
