What is 3D TV?
Put most simply, 3D TV is the future. Home entertainment is constantly evolving and changing with technology, but now one of the television’s oldest innovations is returning to the fore – 3D television is back.
Forget any images you might have of people sat around looking silly in cardboard glasses, there’s nothing gimmicky or naff about the latest 3D TV; it will change the way you watch television and movies forever.
Imagine watching the Champions League Final with all the depth, clarity and atmosphere you’d experience inside the stadium, but in the comfort of your own home. With 3D TV the action explodes from the screen into your living room, making you a part of everything you watch.
The jump from 2D to 3D TV isn’t just a minor bump on the landscape of technology; it’s a huge leap forward in home entertainment, on the same scale as the movement from black and white TV into colour.
Why upgrade to 3D TV?
For all the reasons we just mentioned, and many more on top of those. 3D TV gives programmes a stunning new level of depth that changes the whole viewing experience. Another huge bonus is that the technology won’t just work with new shows; it can be ‘retrofitted’ to all your favourite programming, giving it a new lease of life.
3D Television is best utilised where camera shots are lingering rather than frantic, making it perfect for watching sports and documentaries like Planet Earth. It is with these shows that 3D TV becomes truly breathtaking.
Sky are riding the cusp of the 3D TV wave, and will be introducing a dedicated 3D TV channel this year, in time for the World Cup. Surprisingly the technology they use isn’t that difficult to grasp. The action is filmed using two separate cameras which are next to each other – think of them like eyes – producing images from two slightly different angles. These are then broadcast simultaneously, and given depth with the aid of special glasses worn by the viewer.
It really is that simple, and it means that within the next year you’ll be able to experience stunning 3D pictures from the comfort of your sofa. Don’t head for the action; let the action come to you.
Can I watch 3D TV on my current TV?
Technically, yes you can, but it’s not the same technology that you’ll find in 3D TVs so the effect isn’t anywhere near the same quality. Channel 4 demonstrated the potential of 3D television in late 2009 with a week of programming dedicated to 3D, however for it to work viewers had to wear the traditional 3D glasses that were one of the turn-offs of the technology in its first incarnation. To achieve the true 3D effect you’ll need a special 3D TV.
