Jan 20 2010
Avatar
Michal has posted about this a few minutes ago, but here’s my chance to write about Avatar, too. We’re back in Israel now, and a couple of days ago we went to see it. It’s one of those ‘must-see’ movies, and I also wanted to check the 3D, of course.
Anyway, the movie is great! We really enjoyed it. Cool 3D, amazing visuals, and a pro-nature message that hits the spot (makes you want to go back and live in a cave, really. Although where would you get 3D displays then, eh? those old caves barely have HD-Ready sets). I didn’t enjoy the music too much, and the song at the end was horrible. But other than that it was a great film! Go see it!
A lot of people ask me what’s new about the 3D in that movie. I mean, there was 3D TVs for as long as I remember, so what’s the difference now?. The whole idea in 3D is stereoscopy: you display two images, one for the left eye, and one for the right – this gives the illusion of depth. In the old days they used color-separation: you had glasses that separated the image using color-filters. It’s cheap and simple, but the image loses color and it makes you feel a bit sick sometimes.
The new 3D uses ‘Active-Shutter’ glasses. They include small LCDs that only allow one eye to view the picture at any time (i.e. block the right eye and then the left eye…). The TV (or projector) alternates between the images fast, and you get stereoscopy. The problem? You need a TV/Projector that can switch fast (you need at least 60Hz for each eye which means 120Hz altogether) and you need to synchronize the glasses, too (this means that you need a new TV that is 3D enabled). The glasses are also heavier and more expensive. And there are problems of cross-over if the TV can’t switch fast enough… but the whole thing looks great. That’s how they do it in Avatar!
There are also some newer technologies that allow glasses-free 3D displays. This is complicated, so don’t wait for such things to arrive at the home in the coming years.
You can read more about 3D displays in my 3D-Display-Info site.
How does a glasses-free 3D display work?
When do you think I’ll be able to relax on my couch and watch Dov Gilhar in 3D (without glasses)?
And BTW, WELCOME BACK!
Hey, Thanks.
Without glasses? I think it’ll take about 5 years or so… And who is Dov Gilhar, anyway? Here’s some more info on how these work.
Ron