3 Things You Need To Know About Silly 3D Glasses

This article takes a look at some common misunderstandings about the 3D glasses needed to watch a 3D-TV or a 3D movie.

1: Isn't 3D Just Silly Special Effects With Daft Glasses?

Yes, and no. If you've seen Avatar, you've seen the power of 3D when used to help immerse the viewer into a story. We naturally see the world in 3D, so it only makes sense that giving a sense of depth to any movie we watch in a cinema, or any movie we watch on a 3D-TV at home will add to the experience if done well.

Previously, 3D effects were used more for "shock" value, where objects appeared to come towards you out of the screen. This was probably to distract your attention away from the fact that using the traditional cardboard red/blue glasses impaired the colour resolution of what you were watching!

Now, with the widespread use of polarised glasses in cinemas, the 3D effects can be seen while retaining a full colour palette, as was demonstrated in the jaw-droppingly beautiful Avatar world of Pandora.

So, in the past you would've experienced 3D special effects that only added "shock" value to a movie, but now 3D is being used in more subtle ways to increase your immersion in the movie and strengthen the storytelling. The technology has changed, and so have the glasses.

2: When 3D-TV's Go On Sale, Won't They Use Heavy, Ugly 3D Glasses?

Some will, some won't. It's a common misunderstanding that all 3D TV's use only the heavier "Active Shutter Glasses" which look like a techno-geeks idea of cool shades, require recharging and will be quite expensive. There are a few manufacturers promoting those glasses such as Sony and Samsung, but there are others such as LG promoting the same "passive" polarised glasses that you get in the cinema.

In fact, LG recently got together with Sky in the UK to broadcast a match between Manchester United and Arsenal in 3D, and they opted for using the polarised glasses paired with their new 3D TV.

The passive polarised glasses don't use a battery, don't need recharging and are much cheaper. Obviously, when you can get a pair of glasses with a cinema ticket AND get to see the movie, the glasses can't be very expensive!

3: Can I Get 3D-TV Without Silly Glasses?

At the moment, no. The current batch of 3D-TV's being released all require you to wear glasses of one kind or another. The technology already exists to show 3D images without needing to wear glasses, but it's not ready for primetime yet. It's very expensive, so limited to the "commercial" sector, and has only a few viewing angles where the 3D image works. Also, the 3D effect can't be turned off on a 3D glasses-free TV, so you'd have to use it as a dedicated 3D display, and with the current amount of 3D content, it's not likely that people will want such a display any time soon. However, looking ten years into the future, it's a distinct possibility that 3D TV's will all be "glasses free".