MasterImage 3D expect stereoscopic 3D eBooks to emerge
Glasses free 3D specialists MasterImage 3D have told 3D Focus that 3D eBooks could be a major emerging product category after seeing 'wild interest'.
"Many are looking to spearhead the 3D ePublishing category" Matt Liszt | VP of Marketing MASTERIMAGE 3D
The company’s VP of Marketing Matt Liszt told 3D Focus “ With the Nintendo 3DS XL, 3D mobile gaming is the leading 3D gaming platform with the biggest gaming publishers learning how to make great 3D games. We've seen wild interest in other emerging categories– like 3D ePublishing. This would include 3D conversions of the most visual eBook lines– animated flipbooks, comics, textbooks and magazines. Seeing is believing. They are really fun.”
MasterImage 3D recently signed a deal with Chinese LCD vendor ‘Truly’ to vertically integrate their barrier alignment equipment directly into Truly's manufacturing process. As a result, a range of glasses free 3D panels will be available including 4.3" WVGA, a 7" qHD and 10.1" WUXGA sizes for smartphones and tablets.
The company’s Cell-Matrix Parallax Barrier technology is designed to maximise brightness, lessen crosstalk and present the widest single-view viewing angle for personal usage mobile devices. Furthermore, the barrier design can be customised to fit a variety of TFT designs and technologies.
Seeing the potential for an explosive 3D eBook industry. Liszt told us “Our 7" model is a very promising option. The reader market is aggressive to differentiate as it is quickly becoming more of a media device dedicated to content variety and feature innovation”.
3D Comics?
MasterImage 3D also believe there is a potential market for the conversion of comics. Many comics have been released in 3D over the decades which required anaglyph glasses (often included) and comics are still very popular having been digitised for apps like Comixology’s Comics. MasterImage 3D hope that these 3D comics (and possibly 2D comics through conversion) will be read by new audiences, rendered into autostereoscopic 3D on MasterImage 3D devices.
Writing on the MasterImage 3D blog, Scott Archambault says "We believe these native 3D digital comics will be a huge content opportunity for glasses-free-3D mobile devices. And with motion graphics and transitions being made possible by the digital format, reading them will be remarkably cinematic. There will also be opportunities for conversions of older stories much like today’s movie re-releases."
The potential for the market could be huge, with Amazon recently reporting eBooks are now outselling real books. The question will be, will people want their e-readers to be simple, black and white affairs or all dancing stereoscopic visual experiences? Let us know your thoughts below…
MasterImage 3D Website
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