An Italian firm has developed a prototype camera that can capture 3D imagery via a single lens using pulsed laser energy.
Although it doesn’t produce movie-style images, the FBK team see several potential uses for the camera. It could be incorporated into devices for elderly or disabled people to help them identify dangerous situations, such as those that could result in falls. It could also be used for Wii-like physically-interactive gaming, where the camera’s 3D sensing would eliminate the need for players to hold a controller.
Think this 3D TV stuff is just a fad? Sony doesn’t.
In Sony’s 2012 fiscal year, the mega consumer electronics company expects between 30 and 50 percent of all TVs that it makes will be 3D TVs.
This adds fuel to the 3D fire that Sony has been building with the introduction of 3D content on the PS3 via games and Blu-ray Discs.
PC World wraps up the full summary of word from Sony execs about the coming 3D-compatible sets:
The 3D-compatible sets will include a small piece of additional hardware that enables them to show 3D content but they’ll also work as conventional television sets, said Hiroshi Yoshioka, executive deputy president of Sony and head of the unit that includes its TV business, in an interview. Yoshioka didn’t elaborate on the additional hardware but said it would only add a little to the production cost of the TV set.
XpanD is a worldwide player in the theater-spec 3D glasses market, claiming a 90% market share in Asian cinemas and over 50% in Europe. There are several XpanD-supported cinemas littered throughout the US; however, the company is sending a message to RealD that it will make a harder push into North America in 2010.
XpanD is also touting a strong offering for its 3D tech in consumer electronics for 2010.
It’s a pair of generally pedestrian cameras that, when joined at the hip, combine Voltron-like to do something rather more interesting: capture 3D renderings of your extreme endeavors.
Here’s another video from Tachyon of footage from the 3D cam (get your 3D glasses out):
Sony has developed a high frame rate single lens 3D camera, which purportedly will capture high quality 3D images at 240fps. The new camera is just a concept at this point and relies on an optical system that will simultaneously capture left and right images through a single lens which then reflects light to two mirrors and, in turn, two imaging sensors.
Sony is expected to show a prototype at CREATEC JAPAN 2009 in Japan on October 6.
3DIcon is a 3D projection and display technology developer with lofty goals in commercial applications of 3D tech. Those commercial applications will certainly trickle down to the consumer market if and when they come to fruition. 3DIcon recently got a funding boost for their financial partner and are striving to move closer to 3D bliss, including continued work on their CSpace project, as well as new 3D technologies.
3DIcon just issued a press release that provides a progress update on these developments and generally fires us up with where 3D is going in pursuit of that 3D unicorn we all want to see in our living rooms. [click to continue…]
Recently, rumors of a 3D version of the Xbox have surge accross the web on various tech and video game blogs. This would be a very immersive experience, much more so than watching television and movies in 3D. The rumors suggest that the Xbox 3D games would be viewable as stereoscopic 3D games, which means you’ll need glasses to “get it.”
It doesn’t take much to imagine being “in” a game as opposed to watching a movie in 3D. While movies are certainly entertaining in 3D, certainly as technology is improving (Disney’s Up! in 3D was the best I’ve seen yet), there is still a very “spectator” feeling that goes along with them. The interaction of a video game, particularly the popular, fast-paced first person shooter games like Halo 3, would be incredibly intense in 3D.
The thought of a 3D video game system opens up endless potential for these experiences. Some company has to be the first to jump off the 3D bridge. If it’s a hit, it is going to be huge. Maybe Microsoft will take the leap of faith on 3D. We’ll be following this one as the rumors progress. So, stay tuned.
Musion has been working on the 3-D Holographic Projection technology for a while now. Now, for the first time, Musion going to beam some holographs across the Atlantic ocean in real time. Check out the video above for a demonstration of the Musion Eyeliner technology. More details about the tech and Transatlantic broadcast in the press release below. [click to continue…]
Evans & Sutherland has a laser projection system that is capable of displaying 3D video at 4K x 4K resolution, which is a massively high-resolution image – particularly for 3D.
One of most important advantages of the E&S Laser Projector is the characteristic of a “Gap-free” pixel. Most forms of video display technology have visible breaks, or gaps between neighboring pixels. As you can see in the illustration, CRTs have gaps between the raster scan lines. LCD and DLP-based projectors have gaps in both the vertical and horizontal directions. While they have always been a fact of life, these gaps contribute to aliasing, or unpleasant distortions of the image.
CyberLink showed up at Computex 2009 to show off their HD 3D movie playback tech that allows us to view 3D movies on our computers using the video decoder software PowerDVD. No word of exactly when it will hit, but according to CyberLink, it will be available on your PC very soon.
