3D Technology Has Yet To Work Out All The Kinks
2009 marked an explosion in the 3D film market. What once was considered a niche is now being touted as the next big thing. With the enormous success of Avatar, it seems as if every major studio is hopping on the 3D bandwagon. Universal is even pushing Clash of the Titans back a week in order to convert it into 3D. Just two years ago, you could to count the number of 3D films on one hand, but with advances in digital technology, experts and marketers alike are comparing the change into 3D with that of black-and-white to color.
However, the 3D craze does not end at the cineplex. 3D is racing into the home as well. By the end of the year, several TVs will be 3D-ready for not only 3D Blu-Ray discs and video games, but also for potential 3D television broadcasts. The first live 3D broadcast occurred on January 31st when Sky Sports televised a soccer match in 3D to a few select pubs.
Is 3D really the next major move in entertainment or is it still a fad that will soon die out? Many powerful companies are throwing huge amounts of money at this technology, but it may not be worth it. While millions flocked to see Avatar in 3D in the theater, will demand for 3D content at home be as high? At this point, consumers are confused as to how 3D in the home even works.
In addition to relatively small consumer demand, there are severe health risks posed by 3D. Despite huge advances in the technology over the past decade, there are still major problems with displaying 3D content.
Current 3D entertainment only utilizes one aspect of the brain's depth perception - parallax. This confuses the brain and causes it to "shut down" the other depth cues that are giving it conflicting information. This poses no risk for the occasional theater viewer, but repeated home viewing of 3D could pose a serious risk of binocular dysphoria. The problem is we just don't know what the long term ramifications might be. Television manufacturers have yet to commit to safety testing of potential risks related to this problem.
Although 3D is being hailed as an enormous breakthrough in entertainment, it may prove to fall flat. Will enthusiasm for the format in theaters translate into the home? Are there any serious health issues related with repeated viewings? Do consumers even want 3D TV? Time will tell.
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