Mitsubishi brings 3D to HDTV

Gone are the '50's era red and blue 3D glasses. In: active shutter glasses.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Our entertainment systems have evolved from black and white to color, from fuzzy 480i to ultraclear 1080p, from mono to 7.1 surround sound, from Sony's Betamax to Sony's Blu-ray--what's next you might say? With Mitsubishi's latest line of televisions, the company has stuck out its leg into the elusive realm of 3D; that is, 3D with the glasses and stereoscopic display.

You'll notice from the image above that Mitsubishi's display isn't using the traditional 3D headgear. Old '50s era black-and-white movies used what's called an anaglyph display, which simply means an image is colorized in cyan and blue and layered on top of each other, providing an image--albeit fuzzy image--with a 3D effect. The problem was if a person tilted his or her head even slightly, the image would appear askew. (Updated: 6/25/2008) Mitsubishi's display will be using active shutter glasses and not circularly polarized glasses, as originally indicated. Active shutter glasses, however, which have been popular lately in computer games and home 3D movie systems, has a layer of glass containing liquid crystal, wedged between a polarizing filter. When voltage is applied to these glasses, the liquid crystal darkens but is still transparent, creating what's called an alternate-frame sequence; in synchronizing with the monitor at a high refresh rate, each eye receives a different image, in which the 3D effect is achieved. Thus, it corrects the tilt problem and provides for clearer and more convincing 3D image.

This year's product line includes three 73-inch models along with several 65- and 60-inch plasma models. Mitsubishi is also partnering with NVIDIA, using their Stereo Gaming system to enhance some of the most popular DirectX games (PDF link) with all that 3D goodness. The drivers are compatible with the GeForce 7 and above. The 3D-effect is limited to PC sources, whether game or otherwise. As for movies and television programs, the selection isn't so abounding. At a recent press conference, Mitsubishi showed off Star Wars: Episode II, light sabers and all blazing across the screen with a noticeable amount of depth. But don't expect this technology to takeover prime-time American television--if it ever does--in the near future. In Japan, Hyundai is also offering a 46-inch LCD that can display 3D television broadcasts, although with limited programming.

Aspen Media Products has all jumped onboard as well, marrying its specialty, home media server technology, with Mitsubishi's package. Essentially this will be a high-end HTPC hooked up to one of these Mitsubishi models; the company has yet to announce further details, though. Look for more information in the future and a possible review.

[iamwho]

Sony, years ago, demonstrated a 3D system that didn't require eyeglasses. Forget if it was front- or rear-projector. I saw a live demo at a Sony Expo show and was completely blown away. Wonder whatever happened to it?

[albizzia]

Sorry, but the "tilt problem" is caused by the dual lens stereo camera source behing perfectly horizontal, not the "colored lenses". If your eyes deviate from the horizontal line the camera used, the tilt problem appears, regardless of the type of glasses used. Avoiding the "tilt effect" requires either a head mounted display that tilts with your eyes, or a holographic 3D system not yet possible for TV. Still, it is an improvement over the colored glasses which sometimes produced odd color effects, flickers, eyestrain and headaches.

I still have to question whether the "wow" factor is worth the problems and costs. Simple perspective "3D" on a flat screen worked just fine for a very long list of movies and games!

[Crash2100]

This stuff is such a cheesy joke. I can somewhat understand people wanting this 3D junk for a video game or something, but who cares about it on TV or in a movie? I think it's more of an annoyance factor than anything else. Remember when ABC did that thing where they worked 3D effects into a week of their sitcoms, getting everyone to go get the red and blue 3D glasses from McDonald's? When they did that, you sat watching a half hour sitcom with red and blue glasses, just to see a couple of minutes where they a few lame effects into the video. Then when you watch the show re-runs later, you say "god, this was lame."

[swiggins]

Oh Crash, I guess you didn't read the article. . It said these aRE NOT those old cheesy red& blue 3D glasses from yesteryear. . . THese are "SHUTTER" glasses, which are active.

[Crash2100]

I read the article, and I know they're not using the old red and blue glasses, I'm simply saying that they tend to give these kinds of things far more attention than they truly deserve.