In the 1950s 3D movies hit the theaters and generated a lot of excitement. Those cardboard glasses and the technology of the day however did not provide an optimal viewing experience. Decades later, the popularity of 3D movies saw a bit of a resurgence with the proliferation of IMAX theaters. Unfortunately, these theaters are not something a consumer could install in their living room to enjoy on a routine basis.
Luckily, 3D technology has improved considerably and a number of major cinema releases were filmed and featured in 3D during the past year. Coraline, Avatar, and The Final Destination were among these. Even some TV broadcasts are being transmitted and made available in 3D. In addition, there are plans for entire satellite/cable channels to be in 3D in the not-so-distant future.
But the question for the average consumer who wants to enjoy 3D TV in their home is what do they need to have to get it, and, what will it cost them?
As luck would have it, the answer is fairly simple and straightforward. First of course, they need programming transmitted in 3D. Currently, Discovery, ESPN, and DirectTV are all talking about having 3D channels. More seems certain to follow. At this point, it is likely this programming will be included in some HDTV packages and may well incur no additional charges.
Once a consumer gets the signal they are half way home. The next thing they need is a 3D TV and some shutter glasses to view it. Some of these TV models are already hitting the market. Samsung for instance has numerous 3D TVs now available. The cost is only marginally higher than for other flat screen HDTV models. The shutter glasses need to be purchased with the television set or at least be the same brand. They pick up a signal from a transmitter on top of the television and therefore have to synchronize with it. The cost of the a typical set of shutter glasses will probably be around 0-0. But if several people will be watching the TV at the same time, shoppers may need several pairs of these special glasses.
If viewers want to watch 3D DVDs on their TV, they will obviously need a movie recorded in 3D and a 3D Blu-ray player. This will probably have a cost of 0 - 0 plus the cost of a v1.4 HDMI cable. Not a problem if they were planning a new Blu-ray purchase anyway.
While the cost of a new 3D TV and Blu-ray player may be reasonable if consumers are in the market for new equipment anyway, it could be a problem for those on a tight budget who are merely wanting to upgrade. For these individuals, it might be best to wait a year or two. Wait until more programming is available and for the possibility that prices will fall a bit more as 3D becomes more standard on televisions. Of course, if a consumer is going to wait for several years, it's possible 3D viewing at home may not require those shutter glasses in the somewhat distant future. But for those who are wanting to create a more exciting viewing (or gaming) experience as soon as possible, the technology is here now.
