tech: 3D TV: From Fantasy to Reality

This week, all eyes are on the TV: the 3D TV, to be precise. At the CeBit electronics showcase in Germany this week, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications have demonstrated a 3D television that can be controlled by gestures. Bonkers! Excitingly, viewers of the iPoint 3D TV, for it is named thus, can change channels easily by motioning their finger towards the screen.

The system operates, thankfully, without the need to wear those flattering green and red glasses anymore. Filmmakers, broadcasters and manufacturers are all aiming towards this technological change. Some of the biggest electronics companies seem to be convinced that this will be the next big thing - even Sky is claiming that the technology will be in UK homes in time for the London Olympics. Imagine that, dodging virtual balls in your own home! And not ones throw at you by the Mrs. For sitting in front of the TV for too long.

We have seen examples of 3D recently in Disney’s Bolt and, yet to come, Shrek Goes Fourth and Toy Story 3 will delight us with their multi dimensional holographic displays next year.

It all sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, sadly, there are still some restrictions. Although the old geeks ones are out, a new set of sophisticated polarised glasses are in. You might not look like quite such a supreme geek but you’ll still look just a tad geeky.

And there are even more barriers, quite apart from trying to convince people to swap their fancy new high-def flat screeners for 3Ders. Experts say the appearance on the market of incompatible rival technologies will hold the new experience back. Panasonic and Hyundai have both got completely different approaches to tackling the problem, and a winner in the next format war is far from clear.

Let’s pray and hope that other manufacturers get on board with one or the other so we could soon have a single format that is compatible with any disc or 3D set. – and avoid the horrendous Blu-ray / HD-DVD wranglings we found ourselves in last year. Lord knows, a 3D rendition of Evangeline Lily on Sky One would be welcome indeed.

Laura Kelly-Walsh