over 3 years ago

3D televisions have made the news recently when some were announced at the 2010 CES. Otherwise known as 3D ready televisions, these TVs have the capability to project video at stereoscopic 3D. John Logie Baird first pioneered the televisions in 1928 and they later evolved to include cathode-ray tubes to make them work better and seem more real. Then, in the mid 1930's, still cameras using the 3D technology became commonplace items.

Currently, the main technologies that led to the producing of 3D video and images on televisions include:

• Polarization 3D, which using lenses that are polarized passively
• Shutter lenses, which are active with alternate frame sequence patterns
• Autostereoscopic lensless displays, or Auto 3D, as it is known to commercial dealers
• Anaglyphic 3D, which is the more common of the technologies and uses the glasses to process

The most utilized of the technologies is the Stereoscopy method, which uses a "two-view" setup. This setup uses cameras that are positioned next to each other to simulate the distance between a person's eyes then projects two different two different views; one for each eye thus creating the 3D effect.

The modern television sets that make use of the 3D technology still needs the use of special glasses to make the 3D images appear, however these televisions do not constantly transmit the images in 3D; they can switch back and forth between 2D and 3D as needed. Some popular modern 3D televisions include Panasonic, Texas Instruments, Sony and LG, among others. In fact, the LG 3D television was just announced on June 8 2010 as the first ever full LED HDTV that is 3D ready.

The refresh rate of the televisions is typically higher than regular televisions and requires a minimum of 120Hz, however the higher the refresh rate is on a 3D television, the better the 3D effect will appear. This is because the refresh rate is divided between both eyes. For example, the 120Hz refresh rate will project at 60Hz for each eye through the glasses. Even at the lowest refresh rate of 120Hz, these type of televisions still have a refresh rate twice as high as any of the older or "outdated" technologies used in others than 2D televisions do. These televisions also offer the highest resolutions available at either 720p or 1080p.

Additionally, to gain the full HD 2D experience, the user 3D television watcher should utilize a full HD 3D Blu-ray player in conjunction with the television. This will offer not only the best in technology, but also the highest 3D capable viewing experience possible in modern times, in conjunction with a disk made especially for 3D viewing and compatible glasses.

In recent months, many cable and satellite providers have started broadcasting television shows and movies in 3D, so those customers with these type of televisions now have a choice of programming as well as the DVDs and Blu-ray disks. 3D televisions have certainly come a long way since the 1920's, however while the basic viewing technology has changed, the base 3D technology has not.