It has been quite difficult coming up with things to post today, but I discovered there were some rather interesting 3D display technologies that slipped through my fingers in the CEATEC coverage.

I think "3D" isn't an annoying buzzword quite yet, though it certainly used to be. I'm expecting a lot of these technologies I keep reporting o­n to be formally introduced to the American market some time next year. Then I'll hear "3D" so many times it will make me want to stick a screwdriver in my ear. But it hasn't happened yet, so I'll keep reporting.

At the exhibition hall of CEATEC JAPAN 2004, various genres of new technologies can be seen in the flesh. It seems as though what could be called the "trend" of this year is solid-body conversion technology, which gives video "three dimensionality." Apart from technologies that we already covered such as Sharp's "Naked Eye Solid Body See Display" and Pioneer's "3D floating vision," many unique things were also exhibited. Let's introduce some of these.

---

Your eyes won't be tired anymore ~NTT

NTT had an exhibit with a 3D display that employed two LCD panels to create a 3D image that can be seen with the naked eye. This is an application of a solid body confusion phenomenon supposedly discovered by NTT - this 3D display gives the feeling of "depth" between the two screens. NTT has said "When human eyes see two dimensional images with varying brightnesses, there is an optical illusion of depth. We used this solid body confusion phenomenon."

When looking at the model o­n display, the construction becomes quite evident. For example, to convert a 2D image of a car to 3D, the front part of the car is displayed more strongly o­n the screen closest, and the back part of the car is lighter o­n the further screen. The opposite of this would be displaying the rear of the car towards the front - in this case, the rear of the car would be displayed o­n the front screen strongly and the front displayed lightly in the back. When viewed from straight o­n, the first example will create the illusion of the front of the car being closest and the back of the car being further away; thus creating a 3D image of a car.

"Because this images piled o­n o­ne another are the same, the merit of this system is that you don't need to decrease the resolution. Also, there is no need for special glasses; natural 3D images can be enjoyed for long periods of time without stress o­n the eyes." (NTT)

However, this system requires the prior preparation of two different image datas, meaning it cannot be all-purpose. For this reason, NTT also showcased software using the same technology that allows for simple creation of 3D images o­n a CG base. The targets of this system are, for example, Pachinko machines, game machines, amusement devices, cellular phones, and car navigation systems.

---

From normal TV to 3D TV

On the other hand, the STB (Set-Top Box) announced by Macnica and Mercury3D Systems o­n the 6th is quite all-purpose. When video is passed through this box, normal TV broadcasts and DVD video can be converted to 3D video. Realtime, even.

If you're wondering who Mercury3D Systems is, they are known as the original inventors of the 3D technology known because of Sharp's 3D cellular phone. Their system uses a real time video processor, and this time around they have succeeded in putting that into a special IC chip.

Mercury3D Systems supplied this chip to Macnica, and they have both developed an experimental STB. The STB can convert to NTSC sources to 3D at a speed of 30 frames per second. But the mass production product will support output to all sorts of 3D formats such as anaglyph (red and white glasses), polarized glasses, shutter glasses, vertical slits, and other systems using parallax. Of course, it also supports the naked eye LCD monitors from Sharp and Sanyo.

"3D video hasn't gained its citizenship because of a lack of contents. The creators must use stereo cameras, and specific contents are o­nly developed for specific purposes. But this will allow normally recorded images to be converted to 3D by basically anyone." (Mercury3D Systems)

The shipment of the STB is scheduled for March of 2005. The mass production unit will be 220 x 180 x 50 (W x D x H), and feature composite, S-Video, and DVI output. Pricing is scheduled first for professional use for 200,000 yen.

"We will also deal with offering this technology through hard IP and ASIC. In the future, we would like to take charge of converting video for 3D theaters, conversion over the internet, download services, and other business fields." (Mercury3D Systems)

Inspired by:
http://www.itmedia.co.jp/lifestyle/articles/0410/07/news004.html