Discussions have been rife in the Manufacturing Digital office as to whether 3D is simply a passing fad or a technology which is here to stay. It certainly seems like technology manufacturers are keen to profit from this latest craze, producing televisions, laptops, gaming accessories and mobile phones which are all capable of 3D.
However, with a lack of content available to most consumers, 3D sales have failed to live up to expectations for several manufacturers and retailers. Masaaki Osumi, head of Toshiba's television division, confirms sales have struggled.
“We had wanted 3D sales to make up about half of large-screen TV sales, but it's proving difficult,” he reveals. “Sales of 3D TVs with glasses have not lived up to expectations."
With this in mind, Toshiba has now developed glasses-free 3D technology which uses small lenses in front of a television screen to disperse light to different points in the room. If sat in the right position and at the right angle, the viewer is able to see the 3D effects.
Wearing glasses clearly hasn’t put rap star 50 Cent off 3D technology though as last year he invested in a new company called Gunnar Optiks. The company specialises in manufacturing 3D glasses and in making sharper images that help reduce eye irritation and headaches.
Personally, I’m not too sure 50 Cent’s investment is a wise one and nor does Sir David Attenborough, who believes the introduction of 3D television will be focused on ‘event TV’, covering international sports and action programmes for example. I can see how 3D will completely revolutionise the viewing experience of documentaries and certain films but I cannot see a place for it with everyday programmes.
One media form that requires a huge amount of attention is gaming. Nintendo's 3DS can also produce 3D effects without the need for special glasses through a process called autostereoscopy. Set for release in Japan later this month, the portable gaming console will look to revolutionise the market.
Whatever your opinion, 3D technology manufacturers look to cash in on this latest phenomenon. 3D may not have found its ideal market yet, but manufacturers are going to pursue every avenue in order to find it.
However, with a lack of content available to most consumers, 3D sales have failed to live up to expectations for several manufacturers and retailers. Masaaki Osumi, head of Toshiba's television division, confirms sales have struggled.
“We had wanted 3D sales to make up about half of large-screen TV sales, but it's proving difficult,” he reveals. “Sales of 3D TVs with glasses have not lived up to expectations."
With this in mind, Toshiba has now developed glasses-free 3D technology which uses small lenses in front of a television screen to disperse light to different points in the room. If sat in the right position and at the right angle, the viewer is able to see the 3D effects.
Wearing glasses clearly hasn’t put rap star 50 Cent off 3D technology though as last year he invested in a new company called Gunnar Optiks. The company specialises in manufacturing 3D glasses and in making sharper images that help reduce eye irritation and headaches.
Personally, I’m not too sure 50 Cent’s investment is a wise one and nor does Sir David Attenborough, who believes the introduction of 3D television will be focused on ‘event TV’, covering international sports and action programmes for example. I can see how 3D will completely revolutionise the viewing experience of documentaries and certain films but I cannot see a place for it with everyday programmes.
One media form that requires a huge amount of attention is gaming. Nintendo's 3DS can also produce 3D effects without the need for special glasses through a process called autostereoscopy. Set for release in Japan later this month, the portable gaming console will look to revolutionise the market.
Whatever your opinion, 3D technology manufacturers look to cash in on this latest phenomenon. 3D may not have found its ideal market yet, but manufacturers are going to pursue every avenue in order to find it.
