3D technology that requires wearing no glasses is rapidly developing. Just recently Samsung introduced a giant 55-inch TV set that employs 3D LCD technology with no need to wear 3D glasses. It has 9 viewpoints in the 3D mode. A viewer is recommended to sit in the range 8-20 feet away from the screen in order to enjoy 3D effect. The TV set can work in 2D as well. The principle of this product is that it beams different images for each eye thanks for a changing optical refraction index of the front LCD panel.

It is still in the prototype release and its current specifications are a 1920x1080 resolution, 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and 500cd/m2 brightness. It is estimated to take up to three years before this prototype will become a commercial product.

No other recent technological advancement can be claimed to be as exciting and inclusive as 3D media. 3D blockbusters in the cinema, 3D sports events in pub`s and now the ability to watch 3D content from the comfort of your own home are revolutionising the way in which almost all forms on on-screen entertainment are enjoyed by people throughout the world.

With the underlying technology continuing to grow and adapt the potential for a full 3D home viewing experience can now be realised with little more than a 3D compatible television, 3D glasses and any form of 3D content. 3D content in itself is growing rapidly, with live broadcasts of sporting events now possible, accompanied by traditional television programming in 3D.

In this boom of 3D related products, it is important for the consumer to bear in mind the plethora of products available and make informed decisions as to the best decision available to them in regards to price and performance.

Designer 3D sunglasses are undoubtedly a promising innovation but may not be suitable for every consumer. Equally, projectors may be more suited to certain situations than traditional television monitors and some more suited to gaming over films. As such, it is imperative that the average consumer is aware of all the options open to them when making a purchase.

Owing to the fast paced nature of change in the industry, it also hugely important that the average consumer has the ability to weigh up any purchase`s ability to change and adapt along with the requirements of the industry. This fast paced change need not deter potential buyers, as a well made purchase could allow the user to enjoy both existing technology and future developments such as 3D gaming.

The dvd player is a hugely relevant example of a way in which a consumer can know before they buy any piece of 3D technology the capabilities of the product as well as its durability with regards to changes within the industry and advancements in usage of existing technology. Use of a service such as this would leave the 3D market place a far more open and transparent area of business and benefit not only the individual consumer but those interested in purchasing 3D technology as a whole. In terms of progress in home entertainment 3D technology is undoubtedly the shining light. It has the potential to completely revolutionise the viewing experience from a mundane everyday experiance to one that is entertaining in its own right.

Ryder Cup golfing action will be broadcasted on Sky TV in 3D. It will mark the launch of Europe’s first 3D TV channel.

While it is already golf’s most high-profile global tournament, the launch of 3D watching experience is expected to attract a wealth of new viewers to the sport. It is estimated that the global television audience will reach a billion. Precisely how many people will be able to watch 3D TV is not known. However, the UK’s largest electronics retailer, DSG International (DSGi) said 25% of the TVs in its 670 Currys and PC World stores are now 3D-enabled and, earlier this month, John Lewis announced 15% of its TV sales over 40 inches are now 3D.

To get the full 3D experience, viewers will need a new 3D-enabled TV and Sky’s high-definition package.

Also Turner Sports and The PGA of America announced that they will offer coverage of the 92nd PGA Championship in 3D on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13, on PGA.com and through TNT’s television distributors Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, and Time Warner Cable. The 3D coverage will focus on the par-3 12th and 17th holes at Whistling Straits from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET each day. Host Vince Cellini who will be joined by 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem will provide commentary and analysis on the holes. Beem also will provide analysis throughout the weekend during PGA.com’s extensive 2D online offerings.

The 3D production will use eight cameras produced specifically for 3D that will provide a unique look at course action and give fans a one-of-a-kind visual experience to watch the world’s best golfers play the course’s challenging par-3s.

“At Turner Sports we continually look to provide the fan with an innovative viewing experience through our ability to test and explore new opportunities,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports EVP and COO. “The PGA Championship has always been a platform for forward thinking and interactive technology. During previous PGA Championship coverage on TNT and PGA.com, we have introduced our marquee follow coverage, live streaming action through mobile apps and included social networking within our linear broadcast. Introducing 3D coverage to this crown jewel event allows us another opportunity to better serve our audience and add to our multitude of platforms.”

“The PGA Championship has perennially been the source of many of the game’s most special moments,” said PGA of America Director of Broadcast & New Media Casey Morton. “The addition of 3D television and online technology unfolding at Whistling Straits, a spectacular venue for viewers, is yet another new level of excitement for fans to follow the world’s premier players. We anticipate that the addition of this bonus for viewers opens another chapter in PGA Championship tradition.”

If you have problems viewing three-dimensional images, then conventional 2D TV sets are for you.

The depth perception is limited in around 5-10% of population. Far more people have other vision problems that may prevent them from seeing 3D images in movies or the new 3D TV.

To maike a 3D film requires two cameras that capture two images, simulating the different perspectives of the left and right eyes. 3D glasses enable each eye to see the proper perspective and the brain combines them into a stereoscopic image.

People whose eyes aren't perfectly aligned because of strabismus (eyes don't align when focusing) or amblyopia (one eye loses the ability to see details) or who struggle to keep their eyes lined up and moving together will probably have difficulty fusing the images into a 3D experience. Moreover, the challenge might cause eyestrain (dry, irritated, or painful eyes), which could lead to headache.

If you are having problems viewing 3D images, consult an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

There are some six million people in the UK, the Eyecare Trust claims, who have poor binocular vision. This means their eyes have difficulty processing and viewing the 3D effects, so they’re more likely to see blurred images, resulting in headaches and other unpleasantness.

The Eyecare Trust commented: “You may not have realised that you have poor binocular vision before because your brain will often try to compensate for any visual inadequacies.”

“The good news however is that binocular conditions can be easily detected during a routine eye examination and treatment may be as simple as a new pair of glasses or some vision therapy.”

Recent scientific research shows that major myth of 3D TV being dangerous to your health is not exactly true. Some experts aired a number of concerns. One of them was about the depth-of-field issue for your eyes. Some claimed that prolonged viewing can alter the viewer's depth of perception for up to several hours after they take their 3D glasses off, which could lead to serious accidents. Even Samsung, one of the leading 3D equipment manufacturers, clearly stated on their website a safety guidelines document, which has many precausions to 3D viewers.

These recent findings discovered that 2D actually causes more of a strain than 3D. It is understandable that like with anything else in human life, we should not want 3D TV excessively. Watching 3D television under normal conditions is unlikely to be damaging to the human visual system, scientists from The Vision Centre say.

Professor Colin Clifford of The Vision Centre and The University of Sydney, says it is very unlikely that 3D TV could cause any long-term harm, provided people only watched it for a few hours a day.

“For objects viewed beyond reading distance, the eyes are pretty much pointing in parallel and very little adjustment is required to see things in depth.” Since 3D TV is usually watched from a longer distance it is unlikely to affect how the eyes and brain perceive depth of field. “In actual fact, two-dimensional TV creates more of a conflict for our visual system than 3D TV, because we have to interpret a 3D image out of a flat screen, whereas 3D TV is just giving us a 3D picture.

Reuters reports that The Walt Disney Co will release three 3D movies to IMAX Corp theaters in 2011. These movies include the next "Pirates of the Caribbean" film.

Chuck Viane, president of distribution for Disney, said in a statement the recent performance of the studio's movies in IMAX theaters has "demonstrated that the combination of IMAX and Disney resonates with moviegoers worldwide."

The movies covered under the new agreement are "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz; the animated "Mars Needs Moms" with voice work from Seth Green and John Cusack; and the Disney/Pixar cartoon "Cars 2."

IMAX has emerged as a major player in 3D exhibition, taking advantage of an audience appetite for a more in-depth visual experience that has helped drive box office growth.

"Toy Story 3," Disney's latest 3D release from its Pixar animation division, played in more than 4,000 theaters in the United States and Canada when it opened this past weekend. Of those, 180 were IMAX theaters, which contributed $8.4 million to the film's overall gross of $110 million.

Microsoft division displayed a new technology: 3D without glasses. Although it has been around for awhile but it has always had some limitations. One of the largest limitations is that it only works for one viewer and that viewer must keep their eyes within a specific area. The monitors do this by using lenses or filters that divide the image between the viewer's eyes creating a 3D effect.

Microsoft's new display relies on a wedge shaped lens that doubles as the screen. It uses motion tracking capability to track up to 4 viewers and display a 3D image to each of them. The motion tracking is necessary for displaying 3D without glasses as this form of 3D is impossible without knowing the viewer's head position. There is no need for head tracking but it only works for one viewer and that person must keep their head in a very specific position or the 3D effect will be lost. With the motion tracking ability the display can focus the 3D effect in real time on the viewer by detecting and constantly updating their position. 

The real breakthrough with this Microsoft display is the ability to track and display 3D to 4 viewers at once. Currently the technology is limited to a 20 degree viewing angle though the researchers feel they will be able to get it up to at least 40 degrees. In the case of LCD and LED screens you'll experience picture degradation at angles wider than this anyway so it's not such a big deal.

Taiwan researchers predict mass use of non-glasses 3D TV by 2015. This technology will be able to show depth of field without polarising lenses

Consumers will likely see 3D LCD TVs that don't require people to wear polarised glasses out on global markets by 2015, it was a forecast made by a Taiwanese research group.

Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute already displayed a 42-inch glasses-free 3D LCD TV, and the company can currently make them with screens as large as 65 inches, according to Stephen Jeng, director of ITRI's 3D System & Application Division.

The technology will foster getting 3D into more people's living rooms. Analysts say most people don't want to wear polarised glasses to watch 3D TV, and many balk at the price, up to $200 per pair for some of the glasses.

Jeng says ITRI's technology will be used in digital signs and 3D digital photo frames initially. The main issues for glasses-free 3D TV are broadcasting, availability of content, and eye safety, he said. Small quantities of glasses-free digital signage and 3D photo frames are already available on the market, he said, but may yet take a year or two to take off.

The glasses-free 3D LCD TV on display from ITRI this week showed pictures of objects that ITRI's software converted into a 3D image. The image was blurry and the technology appears to still be a long way from being ready.

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is being filmed in 3D for the first time. Up to 25 of the games will be captured using 3D cameras.

Initially the 3D footage was planned to also be shown at public events in seven cities around the world.

Sony technology will be used to film the games in 3D.

The majority of existing 3D set-ups use two-camera systems to record images tailored specifically for the left and right eye of the viewer, which requires special polarised glasses for viewers.

However, earlier this year, Sony announced a single-lens camera, which is especially suited for sporting events. The camera takes a single image which then is split by mirrors and recorded on two sensors.

It is predicted there may be 13.6m 3D TV sets installed in Europe by 2013.

In 2008, the BBC broadcast the world's first live sporting event in 3D, beaming back an England vs. Scotland game from the Six Nations to a cinema in London.

Due to the World Cup, the most watched football tournament in the world, Korea's electronics producers are enjoying a major boost in the sale of 3D television sets.

Samsung Electronics reported it sold more than 6,000 3D TVs here in the first two weeks of June, compared to a monthly average of 5,000 sold during the February to May period.

Driven by the World Cup, Samsung expects domestic sales to surpass 10,000 units by the end of this month.

Although the price of Samsung 3D TVs ranges from US$2,388 to $8,154, there is not enough in stock to meet the rising demand.

LG Electronics also saw a jump in 3D TV sales, selling more than 3,000 units at home in June. Experts forecasts that LG will sell 10,000 sets in the domestic market before releasing models overseas later this year.

To watch 3D videos on Youtube or Flickr you need a pair of special 3D glasses. Its lenses must be of two colors: red and cyan.

Usually the price for 3D glaases on eBay is around one dollar. However you can easily make them at home using a spare CD jewel case and some permanent marker pens.

Just scribble the transparent side of the jewel case with red and blue marker pens large enough to cover the width of your eyes. The blue (or cyan) color lens will be for the right eye while the red color will cover the left eye.

Alternatively, you may use a pair of sun-glasses that you already have and replace the lenses with colored pieces of transparent plastic. Or pick an old pair of eyeglasses and fill both the left and right lenses with red and blue permanent markers respectively.

The world's most popular video sharing service YouTube quietly made an upgrade one year ago — it introduced a 3D content support. This feature was developed by one of Google employees in his spare time, as we know Google allows its staff to work on their own projects for 20% of the work time. The name of that person is Pete Bradshaw, he is a YouTube software engineer.

I bet you have not even noticed that Youtube was supporting 3D. But the service now supports the uploading of stereoscopic footage (2 video streams) that it will mix, in real time, right within your browser.

Here is what Pete says about his achievemnet:

So I went digging for 3D content on the site. And there was a lot, but the issue was that sometimes it was mixed with different colors (because you can get different colored glasses). There's red/green and yellow/blue and all these other things. So if you were uploading 3D video, you basically planned for one specific kind of glasses you wanted to support. If you didn't have just the right pair, you were out of luck.

...We came up with the idea that, well, we could mix the left and right views inside the player and give an experience that works on any of the different-colored 3D glasses.

And so 3D was integrated into the player in a way users could actually use. The shooter uploads two videos side by side, and then we do the mix in the player. Then the viewer tells us the color of their glasses, or if they'd rather do some of the crazy, cross eyed things.

From the first demo, I probably spent 3 weeks of actual work—not all of it continuous because, given my background, I'm more on the backend server side of stuff here at YouTube than the player side.

I definitely think 3D is coming, and it's going to be a standard feature. But adoption rates and exact technologies, if I knew that stuff, I would be investing.

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