Free Stereo 3D Content Makes 3D Glasses Redundant

This article is a 3D Experience 2010 Feature

During the 3D Experience I met some people from a company called Spatial View. Spatial View is launching a stereo 3D content website called 3DeeCentral which will offer tons of free 3D movies and programmes as well as paid for stereo 3D content for laptops, Apple iphones and iPod touch devices for a central online portal.

No 3D Glasses Required

Small screen 3D enabled devices are expected to boom over the next few years whether that be a 3D laptop, tablet computer or smartphone. Spatial View is hoping to tap into this market by offer an itunes style content store for 3D films and programming. Pricing has not been announced but it is expected that prices will be a maximum of $5.

Because the content is aimed for small screen viewing, Spatial View will also be offering low cost 3D overlays that can be fitted over regular laptop screens,  iPhone screens and iPod touch screens. The laptop screen is expected to retail for about $100 and the iphone screen (the '3DeeSlide) is expected to cost about $10. A lenticular screen for the ipad is expected soon but there was no mention of other popular handsets such as the HTC Desire.

 

The screens employ lenticular technology which allows people to view 3D without glasses. When attached to the iphone, the user still has full control via the touchscreen interface. Lenticular technology has its advantages and disadvantages. The pluses are that it is cheap, it provides a full 3D effect whilst keeping the  full brightness of the  screen (unlike viewing through active or passive 3D glasses). However, the main disadvantage is that it reduces the resolution of the image/video. What you gain in 3D is lost in resolution. Usually I would add another disadvantage – 3D lenticular displays offer very limited viewing angles. However, when I looked at Spatial View's 3D demos, I did not find that a problem because the screens were small. Such technology is fine for the small screen when it is just one person viewing.

Below you can watch my video reaction. I think this will be a big success for Spatial View and I have to say, the 3D demos on the laptop and iphone were very impressive, especially when the overlays are so cheap. It is a shame about the resolution issue but even passive glasses technology reduces the resolution by half. If you want full HD 3D you need an active glasses system but then you get horrible flicker and the glasses are expensive – we can never have it all!

Check out this exclusive video about Spatial View's 3DeeCentral website – an online source for stereo 3D content, filmed during the 3D Experience 2010

Make money from your stereo 3D content

 

3DeeCentral is not live right now but they are interested in people contacting them who want to make money from their stereo 3D content which may not be able to get cinema distributiopn but would be perfect for 3D enabled smart phones and laptops.

Visit http://www.spatialview.com/3deecentral/ for more information.

The company is still awaiting approval from Apple regarding their 3DeeCentral app (which will be free to download) but I will inform my readers when the service is live.

Spatial View plans to develop versions of 3DeeCentral for the most popular 3D enabled PCs and mobile devices. They have no announcements  regarding other devices beyond Apple iPhones and iPod touches at this time.

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