Don’t Go Square Eyed – Viewing TV in 3D Explained
The advancements in 3D TV viewing means soon everything we watch on the box will make us feel like we are in the moment, there, experiencing everything in vibrant HD quality – and in 3D too!
It seems that from a standing start the major 3D TV manufacturers have got to the stage where they have different models of 3D TVs in every online and high street store. As a result, deciding which one to buy is a complete mystery to the average consumer who has just about got to grips with 3D. So where exactly do you start when choosing a 3D TV?
How 3D TV works
Understanding how 3D TV technology works may give you a good basis when the time comes for you to purchase a 3D TV for the first time. It is a new must-have home entertainment gadget a 3D TV replacing the normal televisions which commonly take pride of place in people’s homes.
The potential for 3D to grow is huge as the new technology’s popularity looks likely to grow over the next few years. This demand will be further supported with the growing possibility of more 3D content for new 3D TV channels and networks. This will combine existing TV technology and the addition of 3D Blu ray players to create a great experience for TV viewers.
With new 3D movi’es like Alice in Wonderland grossing millions at the box office it may seem like 3D is the newest wave in media. The 3D technology, however, has been around for a while.
Different types of 3D images
In 1922, the first 3D movi’e made its debut on our screens using the oldest form of 3D TV technology, anaglyph images. This produces stereoscopy which uses the fact that our eyes are spaced a certain distance apart. Information is then fed to the brain and our brain interprets this information and combines the two images to create depth perception and see three dimensional images.
Stereoscopy involves taking a single image, and adding two additional image layers with slightly different perspectives, which is why the glasses required for watching the images are tinted red on one lens and the other is blue. The lenses are filters that trick the brain into creating a 3D image by mixing the two images together. This later led to the creation of the polarised 3D glasses for 3D TV and 3D movi’es that is in the cinemas today.
How Do 3D Glasses Work?
Polarised 3D glasses operate in a similar way to the red-blue disposables. But rather than using coloured layers to create an anaglyph image, the layers use two different polarisations. In cinemas there are multiple projectors to produce the extra layers and that is impossible with a television. So to over overcome this, newer glasses have been invented – the LCD shutter glasses work on a system known as ‘active technology’. These active shutter glasses work by alternatively blocking the vision in each eye in conjunction with the refresh rate of the display screen. 3D TVs that use this will display alternate images with slightly differing perspectives at a high rate, and the glasses darken each lens in time with the alternating images.
Conclusion
It looks increasingly likely that 3D TVs are here to stay. Manufacturers like 3D, filmmakers and TV producers like 3D, and, most importantly of all, consumers seem to like 3D TV, too. So at some point in time, most of us will have to upgrade our sets to benefit from the experience. There are a number of 3D televisions on the market that boast excellent 3D TV quality, and hopefully, by understanding a little bit more about how 3D TV technology works, this guide will help you decide if purchasing one is the right choice for you.
About the Author: Barry Knightly is a tech expert and fan of 3D TV technology.