This is how to make 3D glasses out of some older glasses and some markers.

Watching 3-D TV requires wearing a pair of 3D glasses, while most of the top tier 3D televisions include one pair of 3D glasses you will still need extras for the rest of the family or any guests you will have over to watch TV in 3D. Lower tiered 3D capable LED and Plasma TV usually don’t include the glasses so for those models you will need to purchase a minimum of one pair of 3D glasses.

3D TV Glasses are proprietary, meaning that one brands glasses may not work on another brand’s TV so if your friend has a Sony 3D TV and you have a Samsung they won’t be able to bring their glasses over to watch TV and vice versa.

If you have a large family or a large group of friends that come over to watch TV this adds up to a lot of 3D glasses you need to buy. How much are they? Right now 3D flat panel TV is brand new and with proprietary glasses you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $250 for each pair of glasses. If you are purchasing a 3D HDTV for the family be sure to factor this into your budget. If you are purchasing multiple 3-D televisions for different rooms in the house try to stick to the same brand so your glasses will work on all the TVs.

3D TV Advantages; Is now the time to buy a 3D TV?

3D HDTV was the showcase of nearly all the major manufacturers at CES, they dedicated much of their floor space and primary displays to 3D and it was the talk of everyone who reported on the annual electronics show. Now that the 3D displays are hitting the market you are probably asking yourself whether or not you need a 3D HDTV.

The first and most obvious answer to this question is if you want to watch 3D content then you will need a 3D TV (for a full discussion on what will be available to watch see our 3D Content article). There will be 3D to watch but there won’t be a whole lot of it for awhile yet. Some sporting events, such as the World Cup will be broadcast in 3D, Discovery is planning a 3D network and many of the 3D movies currently in theaters will be available on Blu Ray Disc by the holidays but a shortly after that next year’s 3D TVs will be on display at CES 2011.

We were told by some manufacturers at CES that 3D would not add significant cost to the TV but as they come to market we can see that this is not at all the case. 3D capability adds a a premium for the new sets and for the first time in a long time we are seeing flat panel television prices on the rise again. 3D technology for HD televisions is not a brand new technology, it’s been available in DLP sets for years and their prices continued to drop with or without 3D tech.

As with any new technology 3D will get better, more widely available and less expensive after a few iterations. 3D content will also be expanding in the future ad more content means more reasons to own a 3D HDTV. As the technology improves some internet connected TVs should be able to update their firmware and improve 3D processing so for the early adopters out there their TVs may be able to gain from future improvements.

If you’re planning on buying a top tier TV in 2010 you’ll be getting 3D capability with your purchase. All of the flagship lines this year have 3D so you can consider that a bonus. Check with the manufacturer of your Blu Ray player as many of them will be getting 3D firmware updates and also see if your HDTV provider will be offering 3D and if you will need an upgraded cable or satellite box to view it. If you’re going to buy a top tier TV this year you might as well get the most of it.

At bottom of article add: Right now the premium for 3D TV compatibility is around $400 depending on whether the TV is LED, plasma or LCD. Obviously purchasing a 3D TV future proofs you for the possibility that the technology takes off and content for 3D TV explodes.

http://www.3d-tvbuyingguide.com/3dtv/do-you-need-3d-tv.html

Myth #1: 3D TVs will increase the price of my new TV dramatically.

Actually, 3D compatibility will just be a new feature of many of the HDTVs entering the market place in 2010. As such, it will not necessarily increase the cost of production of the TVs any more than another feature such as 120Hz rate in LCD TVs would. However, the feature is being included on the higher end models offered by manufacturers which also include a host of other top features such as super thin design, increased black levels, better processing engines, high Hz rate, and others. For this reason, the TVs with 3D compatibility will appear more expensive, but it’s not because of the 3D enabled feature.

Myth #2: 3-D TV technology is a new feature for 2010.

Actually Mitsubishi has had 3D enabled DLP televisions on the market since 2007. The feature is not new, but it has been improved.
Myth #3: 3D TV owners must always wear the 3-D glasses.

3D glasses will only need to be worn when viewing 3D programming. 3-D is just another feature of the TV. The TV will operate as a normal 2D TV with all but your 3-D content – sans glasses.
Myth #4: 3D Glasses will not be necessary with the new 3-D TVs.

This is true of a small test sample subset of smaller LCD monitors in the 15″ to 20″ size range. It’s possible to view 3D content when viewing these specialized monitors from directly front and center with little movement. This will not be the case for 3-D TVs available in stores to consumers. They will all need 3-D glasses to be able to view the 3D content.
Myth #5: 3-D Content will always be viewable in full high definition.
“Many of the new LCDs with 3D capability will only be able to display 600 to 800 effective lines of resolution”

Strangely enough with many of the new LCD 3D TVs you will not see full high definition 1080p. Many of the new LCDs with 3D capability will only be able to display 600 to 800 effective lines of resolution. While this is a good resolution it is not close to 1080p. There are exceptions such as a special line of LCDs developed by Sony (LX900 series and HX900) and good ole plasma. Panasonics 3D plasma TVs will show you a full HD picture.

Unfortunately 3-D glasses in most cases must be purchased seperately. They will cost around $50 to $100. There are anaglyph 3-D glasses with different colored lenses, linear polarized, and circular polarized glasses. There are also 3-D shutter glasses. The TV manual that comes with your 3-D TV will let you know what type of glasses you will need.
A 12 Step Guide to Purchasing a 3D TV

How 3D TV Technology Works; The principles behind 3-D HDTVs explained

We all know that a television, any television, displays 2 dimensional images so how does a 3D TV create the illusion of 3 dimensions? Read on to find out.

Creating the illusion of 3 dimensions relies entirely on the fact that we have two eyes separated by a particular distance. If each eye is shown the same image shot from slightly different angles then when your brain combines the image it will appear three dimensional. This is the principle that all 3D effects use, from your old red viewmaster to Avatar shown at IMAX. The viewmaster showed a completely separate image image to each eye, 3D movies and television rely on two different methods.

In the first the two images needed to create the effect are combined into one image. Each image can be altered by a color filter or a polarized filter. With the color filter the viewer will wear 3D glasses with two different colored lenses, the glasses then block out one of the two combined images so each eye sees a different angle of the same shot producing a 3D effect. Orginially this method, called Anaglyph, required 3D to be created without a color picture but modern advances have allowed 3D to be done in color with this method although color quality still suffers. Polarization uses the same princliple but rather than altering the color of an image it alters the waves of light the viewer sees. The glasses the viewer wears have differently polarized lenses which only show one image to each eye, picture quality is better with this method and it is what is used in most 3D movie theaters.

The second method involves powered 3D glasses that have LCD screens for lenses. The glasses are synced to the display via infrared or another method and the two different angles of each frame are shown sequentially to the viewer. The lenses alternately open and shut so each eye sees a complete version of each angle rather than parts of a combined version. This actually works similarly to the old viewmaster mentioned above but rather than showing each eye a different image at the same time, the images are seen in rapid sequence. This is a very effective method of creating the 3D effect but it halves the frame rate of the content. Video normally runs at 30 frames per second (29.97 to be exact) so with this method of 3D each eye is only seeing 15 frames per second, this lessens the apparent smoothness of the content.

Another method of 3D, without glasses, has been around for a few years but it is just now starting to come to market. This method uses filters or lenses in front of the screen to direct the separate images to each eye. Early versions of this technology required the viewer to maintain a very specific distance and position in relation to screen, even relatively minor deviations would break the 3D effect. Today combining the filters and/or lenses with a camera and face recognition software creates the ability to just the screen in real time to project to the split images to the current location of the viewer’s eyes. Nintendo will be using this technology on their upcoming 3DS handheld and Microsoft has even created a screen that can project 3D to 4 people in real time using this same principle.

Even though 3D viewing has been around for more than century in one form or another is really is still in it’s infancy. Expect more 3D breakthroughs in the years to come as it’s popularity is on the rise again.

3D glasses form a vital component of current 3D Display technology enabling stereoscopic vision and depth perception. As explained in greater depth in the 3D TV technology guide, we are able to perceive depth due to the fact that each of our eyes observes the same scene but at a slightly different perspective. When the individual images being viewed by each eye reaches our visual cortex, our brain automatically puts these images together and interprets information regarding the third dimension. Try tossing a ball back and forth with a friend with one eye shut and you will realize just how important the second eye is for us to perceive depth.

Thus, ultimately any 3D display technology will rely on using a method to deliver separate images (or views) of the same scene to each eye. 3D glasses provide a very simple and elegant approach to achieving this. The idea behind them is simple enough, each eye piece allows the image meant for the corresponding eye to pass through while blocking the image meant for the other eye.

3D Glasses can be divided into two primary technologies, Active and Passive. Active glasses are usually powered and involve moving or switchable elements in the glasses that “actively” discriminate the incoming image so as to provide a different image to each eye. In direct contrast, Passive glasses do not rely on any powered or movable elements. They usually rely on some special type of optical material that helps discriminate between the images meant for each eye.

Active Shutter 3D Glasses

Active shutter glasses are currently a very popular choice amongst consumer electronics giants who are investing in 3D display technology. The primary reason for this is that this technology requires a very minimal modification to current HDTV displays and as a result it is much easier to develop and perfect. The individual eye pieces of these glasses incorporate liquid crystals and a polarization filter so that when a voltage is applied, the glass turns dark and prevents light from transmitting through. Thus the left and right eye glass can be shuttered alternatively in this manner and this shuttering effect is synced with the refresh rate of the display. The 3D TV displays a frame for the left and right eye alternatively and the sync with the active shutter glass ensures that each eye only ever views the image it is meant to see. As is probably evident, because of the way these displays work, the effective refresh rate of the TV is halved. This is why 3D Ready TVs have to have a minimum refresh rate of 120 Hz (meaning 60 frames per second for each eye).

So how will Active Shutter Glasses affect your 3D experience? Well, it is actually a very simple and elegant solution to providing stereoscopic vision using existing display technology. The pros and cons of this technology is listed below and will probably help answer some of your questions.

One of the major differences between the older technology CFL backlit (flourescent) LCD TVs with 3D compatibility and those with LED backlighting is that there just will not be as many of them. Manufacturers of all stripes are choosing to present the 3-D ready feature as a premium feature for 2010 and this means that it will be included on their higher priced premium TV models. LED backlighting is probably a much better technology for 3D reproduction anyway. The deeper blacks and longer lasting brightness of the technology will lend itself well to 3D content.

One of the major differences between the two will also be Hz rate. An LED TV with 240Hz rate (and the faked 480Hz rate) will show an 800 lines per eye 3D picture, while a 120Hz rate LCD or LED will show around 600 lines of resolution. Since almost all 240Hz rate LCDs have LED backlighting this will be an advantage for LED 3D TVs.

Depth perception from the 3D content will be better matched with the LED backlighting which produces a deeper black.

From a value perspective there is a clear separation intent from manufacturers to differentiate LED backlighting, higher Hz rate, and now 3D compatibility with the lowly CFL backlit LCD. Much of this has to do with competition against some of the superior characteristics of plasma TVs (see plasma 3D TV vs. LCD 3D TV), while other aspects have to do with keeping the technology moving onward and upward, in order to keep those prices higher than what was left behind.

If you’re the type who likes to keep updated with the latest technology, then you’ve probably already heard of the 3D TV. Many people anticipate it to be the next big thing as it promises to change everything we’ve come to love about TV viewing. If you were amazed with what the HD TV has done to improve your viewing pleasure, then prepare to be blown away with the 3D TV once the once the electronic bigwigs start to release their first units within this year. Still feeling a bit apprehensive about this new technology? Then let this simple 3D TV review sort it out for you.

But first things first, what is a 3D TV? If you have already experienced watching a 3D movie on the screen, then you probably have a slight idea on what this technology is all about. The primary thing that sets this television apart from its much popular contemporaries is that it makes use of technological techniques that enables you to see images through a 3 dimensional perspective. This means that you will no longer have to be content with just 2 dimensional TV viewing, because once you put on those 3D glasses, you’ll be able to watch your favourite TV show in a crisper and realistic form.

If you enjoy the thrill and excitement of watching 3D movies, then you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be able to watch all your favourite shows in 3D within the comforts of your own living room. Just think of all the savings and convenience you’ll get to enjoy just by buying yourself a 3D TV. You won’t have to fall in line ever again just to watch a movie in 3D. You’re sure to become the envy of your family and friends once they find out that you have the newest entertainment technology.

And since almost all electronic big sharks are set to introduce their own 3D TV, if they haven’t already, into the market any time time soon, it’s the consumers who will defiantly benefit from this the most. This means, you’ll be able to have a wide array of different models, sizes and features to choose from. So whether you’re thinking of putting a giant screen in your living room, or you want your kids to have their own 3D TVs in their rooms, you will be able to buy a 3D TV within the budget you set. Just make sure to consult a reliable 3D TV review so that you will have an idea on what brand would be perfect for you.

Although 3D technology promises to give you a more vibrant and realistic viewing experience, there are a few minor setbacks that you need to deal with. For one, in order to enjoy watching 3D shows, you will need to use the 3D glasses that are included in the 3D TV deal. If you have a big family or you want to keep a few glasses in stock, be prepared to buy extra ones. Another setback is that since most shows nowadays aren’t being made for 3D yet, you might only be able to use the 3D mode on limited occasions. But nevertheless, as soon as the technology takes off, you’ll be glad that you were among the first people to get a 3D TV.

So there you have it. If you’re interested to know more about 3D technology and how it can change your TV viewing pleasure, make sure to check out what the different electronic companies have to say about this innovation. Look up 3D TV review on the search engine and get a low down on how other consumers feel about 3D.

There has been a lot of buzz and excitement surrounding the recent announcements by a number of consumer electronic giants regarding the release of a host of 3D TVs in 2010. However, many consumers have been left scratching their heads trying to figure out whether Plasma or LCD TV technology will be better suited for the display of 3D content. While at first glance it may appear that both these technologies will provide the same experience, this guide will outline the various pros and cons of Plasma and LCD display technology and explain the significance of these with regards to the 3D capability of these displays.
Plasma 3D TV vs LCD 3D TV Refresh Rates

One of the primary battlegrounds when it comes to the LCD vs Plasma 3D TV conflict is the battle of 3D TV refresh rates. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation flying around from both camps leaving you, the consumer, well and truly confused. So let’s begin by clarifying this once and for all. Currently, many LCD 3D TV manufacturers are marketing their 3D Displays with Refresh Rates of 120Hz, 240Hz and even 480Hz. Naively, we would expect that these numbers imply that a 240 Hz display is twice as fast and smother than a 120HZ display and that a 480Hz display will be 4 times better than a 120Hz LCD display. Of course, this is what the LCD TV manufacturers want the consumers to believe. The truth however, is quite different from what they would like to have us believe.

While these 3D LCD screens do have improved refresh rates, they still have problems when it comes to the display of fast moving video content. The fundamental reason for this is that LCD displays have a finite refresh rate for each pixel. When a fast moving scene is being displayed, the screen isn’t able to refresh each pixel fast enough to keep in sync with the motion and it leads to a blurring and ghosting of the image. This is especially an issue when it comes to watching sports on LCD TVs. 3D LCD TV manufacturers have certainly improved the pixel refresh rates of the screens but they are still a way away from being able to achieve true 240Hz/480Hz refresh rates. Instead, they rely on using some mathematical trickery and the choice of extremely favorable specifications to fudge the numbers so as to claim 240 and 480 Hz refresh rates thus tricking consumers into believing that the premium 480Hz 3D LCD TVs are actually 4 times faster than regular 120Hz LCD displays.

Unlike LCD TVs, Plasma 3D TVs do not suffer from any of these motion blur/ghosting issues to begin with. Plasma TVs have almost instantaneous pixel refresh rates and this results in a lack of ghosting and blurring in fast motion videos. In older Plasma TVs there used to be a motion trail effect due to the phosphor lag time of the plasma screen (the lag time is the time it takes the phosphor of the screen to stop glowing after it stops being excited). However, current 3D Plasma TV manufacturers have solved this problem by developing newer phosphors with extremely low lag times. To combat the Refresh Rate misinformation campaign being conducted by the LCD TV conglomerates, the Plasma TV makers have started to market a term called “Sub-field motion” or “Sub-field drive” numbers like 480Hz and 600Hz. This is obviously a ploy by the Plasma TV makers to beat the LCD consortium at their own game while also allowing consumers to understand that Plasma 3D TVs are indeed better when it comes to motion tracking and refresh rates than LCD 3D TVs. While it is certainly reprehensible that both camps have to stoop to such levels of misinformation to win consumers over, at least the Plasma TV makers are doing so to prove to the consumer that they do indeed offer a superior technology when it comes to screen refresh rate. Do check out our guide on Sub-field drive technology in Plasma 3D TVs to learn more about how and why Plasma 3D TVs offer better refresh rates and motion tracking.

Plot showing the Motion resolution of Plasma vs LCD 3D TVs

Another important point to consider is that currently, only Plasma 3D TVs are capable of displaying a full 1080p picture, or 1080 lines of resolution when displaying video content. Even the best 3D LCD TVs to date can only achieve moving resolutions of 800-900 lines, not the full 1080p (even though they are rated as 1080p). Gary Merson (from HdGuru) performed extensive tests on this matter and Gizmodo reported on this in late 2007. You can find the article here – 1080p TVs Never Deliver 1080p Motion. This again has to do with the pixel response time limitation of LCD panels. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a big deal breaker as most of us would be hard pressed to tell the difference between an image with 900 lines of resolution and 1080 lines of resolution in a video.
3D TV Refresh Rate Winner: Plasma TVs. Even though LCD panels have been improved to reduce motion blur and ghosting, they are still a ways away from matching Plasma TVs in this area.
Plasma 3D TV vs LCD 3D TV – Viewing Angles

When it comes to viewing angles, Plasma 3D TVs have a definite advantage over LCD TVs. This is largely due to the manner in which the light is created in each type of panel. In the case of Plasma TVs, individual phosphors on the TV screen are excited by UV light excitation (due to plasma discharges in each pixel) and as a result they glow and emit light in all directions. This property of the phosphors to emit light isotropically (i.e. in all directions) allows for excellent viewing angles in Plasma 3D displays. In the case of LCD displays, the TV backlight is directed normal to the TV screen. As a result, when you view the TV at oblique angles you get a less uniform light distribution. While LCD panels incorporate diffusive elements to enhance this light distribution and mitigate this effect, they are still not as effective, thus giving Plasma 3D TV’s the edge when it comes to viewing angles.

So why does this matter for 3D content? It is only a major consideration if you have quite a few folk watching TV at the same time as you would like all of them to enjoy a good 3D experience. Improved viewing angles will provide a more enjoyable and uniform 3D display to even those viewers who are sitting away from the center of the screen.

3D TV Viewing Angle Winner: Plasma, but LCD TV viewing angles have improved substantially, especially on higher end LCD televisions. Additionally, unless you plan to have many people viewing your TV at wide angles, viewing angle will be a total non issue on most modern 3D TVs.
3D TV Screen Brightness

When it comes to the brightness of displays, LCD TVs have always had the upper hand on Plasma TVs. With newer LED backlight technology, LCD TVs have improved even further when it comes to the backlight brightness of the Television displays. Plasma 3D TVs on the other hand have a harder time upping the display brightness due to the nature of the technology (Plasma TVs do not rely on a backlight, but rather the spontaneous generation of light by phosphors on the screen when excited).

When it comes to 3D TVs, Screen brightness does have an important role to play because of the use of 3D glasses to view the 3D content. Both passive polarized 3D glasses and Active Shutter glasses cause a net loss in light transmission thus dimming the image that is perceived by our eyes. This is the same reason why 3D Movie projectors in the theaters are specially made to produce substantially brighter images so as to compensate for this optical transmission loss across 3D Glasses.

LCD/LED backlit 3D TVs will definitely have an advantage over Plasma 3D TVs in this aspect, although the Plasma TV manufacturers have developed new phosphors for their screens that glow brighter and help improve the 3D experience. I wouldn’t be too worried about the brightness levels in Plasma TVs since Panasonic’s 3D Plasma TV was voted as the best 3D TV on display at CES 2010 earlier this year.

3D TV Brightness Winner: LCD definitely takes the win here, but Plasma has improved greatly and from the look of things so far, both types of display technologies will be very capable of producing images that are bright enough for easy viewing with 3D glasses. However, if you typically view your TV in a bright room with lots of light
3D Gaming and Computing

3D gaming is going to be really big and is probably going to be one of the chief factors driving the adoption of 3D in our homes. Most people who has gamed on a good 3D TV monitor have responded very enthusiastically to this technology. Add to that the fact that there is no significant processing involved for 3D gaming (the images and the game are already in a virtual 3D space, so generating a different view for each eye is quite trivial), which is making it easy for publishing houses to push the development of 3D games.

As far as the Plasma vs LCD 3D debate is concerned when it comes to 3D gaming and computing, LCD technology definitely holds the upper hand over Plasma TVs. The reasons are two fold:

1. As explained above, the brightness advantage that LCD displays possess will help when it comes to gaming. Many gamers prefer to game with the monitor gamma turned up so that they don’t miss out dimmer details in their games. You definitely don’t want to be playing Call of Duty or any other FPS and missing out on subtle visual cues that would have helped you avoid another embarrassing frag/death.
2. LCD TV monitors also have the advantage of being able to push the resolution of the display up even for smaller screen sizes. If you are gaming on a PC, then you probably aren’t going to get anything larger than a 32 inch monitor. It is very hard to come by good quality, 1080p plasma 3D TVs at this size, and even if you did come across one, it would probably be unable to compete on the price front with equivalent 3D ready LCD monitors.

So are LCD 3D monitors definitively better than Plasma 3D monitors? Unfortunately the answer is never an easy one. LCD monitors do have the advantages mentioned above, but the one significant disadvantage they have in comparison to Plasma TVs is their long pixel refresh rate times which leads to ghosting and motion-blur issues. As explained at the beginning of this guide, 3D Plasma TVs are much better when it comes to the display of fast moving scenes.

Ultimately it is up to you to determine what factors matter the most to you so you can choose the appropriate 3D monitor for gaming and computing.

Winner for 3D Gaming and Computing: LCD, but only marginally. Plasma does have the crucial advantage of exhibiting very low ghosting/motion-blur as compared to LCD TV monitors.
The Plasma 3D TV vs LCD 3D TV Verdict

So which technology is best when it comes to 3D TVs? In our opinion, both technologies are extremely capable but we do believe that at the moment Plasma TVs do hold an edge over 3D LCD TVs. They show better color fidelity, faster refresh rates and improved black levels (although some of the most recent, high end LED LCD TVs are up to par with some of the best plasma TVs when it comes to black levels). However, you must keep in mind that there will be some variance between different 3D TV brands and models but on the whole we do believe that Plasma will be a better choice.

We all know that a television, any television, displays 2 dimensional images so how does a 3D TV create the illusion of 3 dimensions? Read on to find out.

Creating the illusion of 3 dimensions relies entirely on the fact that we have two eyes separated by a particular distance. If each eye is shown the same image shot from slightly different angles then when your brain combines the image it will appear three dimensional. This is the principle that all 3D effects use, from your old red viewmaster to Avatar shown at IMAX. The viewmaster showed a completely separate image image to each eye, 3D movies and television rely on two different methods.

We all know that a television, any television, displays 2 dimensional images so how does a 3D TV create the illusion of 3 dimensions? Read on to find out.

Creating the illusion of 3 dimensions relies entirely on the fact that we have two eyes separated by a particular distance. If each eye is shown the same image shot from slightly different angles then when your brain combines the image it will appear three dimensional. This is the principle that all 3D effects use, from your old red viewmaster to Avatar shown at IMAX. The viewmaster showed a completely separate image image to each eye, 3D movies and television rely on two different methods.
3D Glasses

In the first the two images needed to create the effect are combined into one image. Each image can be altered by a color filter or a polarized filter. With the color filter the viewer will wear 3D glasses with two different colored lenses, the glasses then block out one of the two combined images so each eye sees a different angle of the same shot producing a 3D effect. Orginially this method, called Anaglyph, required 3D to be created without a color picture but modern advances have allowed 3D to be done in color with this method although color quality still suffers. Polarization uses the same princliple but rather than altering the color of an image it alters the waves of light the viewer sees. The glasses the viewer wears have differently polarized lenses which only show one image to each eye, picture quality is better with this method and it is what is used in most 3D movie theaters.

The second method involves powered 3D glasses that have LCD screens for lenses. The glasses are synced to the display via infrared or another method and the two different angles of each frame are shown sequentially to the viewer. The lenses alternately open and shut so each eye sees a complete version of each angle rather than parts of a combined version. This actually works similarly to the old viewmaster mentioned above but rather than showing each eye a different image at the same time, the images are seen in rapid sequence. This is a very effective method of creating the 3D effect but it halves the frame rate of the content. Video normally runs at 30 frames per second (29.97 to be exact) so with this method of 3D each eye is only seeing 15 frames per second, this lessens the apparent smoothness of the content.

Another method of 3D, without glasses, has been around for a few years but it is just now starting to come to market. This method uses filters or lenses in front of the screen to direct the separate images to each eye. Early versions of this technology required the viewer to maintain a very specific distance and position in relation to screen, even relatively minor deviations would break the 3D effect. Today combining the filters and/or lenses with a camera and face recognition software creates the ability to just the screen in real time to project to the split images to the current location of the viewer’s eyes. Nintendo will be using this technology on their upcoming 3DS handheld and Microsoft has even created a screen that can project 3D to 4 people in real time using this same principle.

Even though 3D viewing has been around for more than century in one form or another is really is still in it’s infancy. Expect more 3D breakthroughs in the years to come as it’s popularity is on the rise again.

How 3D TV works – Which? guide