Toshiba has announced its plans to launch two REGZA 3D HDTVs that will not require the 3D glasses commonly associated with the technology. This is similar to Ninendo’s plan with the 3DS which will bring glasses-free gaming to the handheld market next year.
Toshiba has confirmed that it will release two glasses-free 3D HDTVs in Japan at the end of December 2010. Now, before you get too excited, the two sets currently in the pipeline are just 12-inches and 20-inches respectively, and there is no word on availability for the rest of the world.
Toshiba explained that each 2D frame will be rendered using an imaging system which creates 9 different perspectives (parallaxes). This creates the impression of a 3D image to the end-user.
“They developed a powerful engine and an algorithm to extrapolate these perspectives out of the 2D frame and used a perpendicular lenticular sheet, an array of lenses, that enable the viewer’s brain to superimpose the perspectives.”
“It also offers a wide viewing area in front of the display and allows movement of the eyes and head without disrupting the 3D image and without the discomfort sometimes associated with other ‘glasses-less’ 3D technologies.”
Sadly, commercial viability of larger glasses-free 3D HDTVs is apparently years off, although Toshiba did demonstrate a 56-inch concept panel using this technology.
Discuss the implications of glasses-free HDTV for gaming on the MyGaming forum.
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