3D Not Suitable For Children?

In America, Sony have recently updated their terms of service and user agreements for the PlayStation Network. Some of the changes in the updated document are centred around 3D devices and content.

Yesterday, we took a look at a report from UK charity The Eyecare Trust, which said that due to visual impairments around 12% of the UK population may not be able to see 3D, and it is likely that this figure is replicated around the world. Whilst there is sympathy for those in that position, from a business point of view it does still leave around 88% of population who don’t have a problem viewing 3D, and that’s a huge target market to aim your 3D related products and content at. Or is it?

In the updated ToS it says “Some people may experience discomfort (such as eye strain, eye fatigue or nausea) while watching 3D video images or playing stereoscopic 3D games on 3D televisions. If you experience such discomfort, you should immediately discontinue use of your television until the discomfort subsides.” This in itself isn’t really surprising as gaming has carried all sorts of warnings for a long time now – just take a look inside any game manual if you don’t believe me.

In various 3D articles on TSA there has been occasional comments from a few people saying that they, or someone they know experiences 3D related discomfort or annoyances at the flicker caused by the Active Shutter Glasses.

So, perhaps 3D content and products may adversely affect more people than those who already feel discomfort from photo sensitivity or from just looking at any screen for too long? Although, as always the manufacturer’s advice is to take regular breaks, making this somewhat a moot point as far as 3D adoption is concerned.

However in the updated ToS, Sony go on to point out: “The vision of young children (especially those under six years old) is still under development. SCEA recommends that you consult your doctor (such as a pediatrician or eye doctor) before allowing young children to watch 3D video images or play stereoscopic 3D games.”

I’m a keen gamer (sometimes), love 3D and was planning to be at the front of the queue for the second wave of 3D TVs but Sony’s advice that doctors should be consulted before young children view 3D imagery is more than a tad worrying. I’m pretty sure it’s just Sony covering themselves legally  but this is also a view shared not only by Sony, but also Nintendo and the movie companies (who confusingly seem only too happy to produce lots of child friendly 3D content).

Nintendo’s new handheld, the 3DS seemed to receive unanimous praise after its E3 unveiling, not only because of the glasses-free 3D screen but because the range of games advertised appeared to targeted towards an older audience than Nintendo usually favours.

The reason for this now appears to be the inclusion of the 3D screen and its unsuitability for youngsters. Speaking to Kotaku Nintendo’s US President Reggie Fils-Aime said: “We will recommend that young children not look at 3D images,” he said. “That’s because, [in] young children, the muscles for the eyes are not fully formed… This is the same messaging that the industry is putting out with 3D movies, so it is a standard protocol.”

Obviously we know that the 3DS features a slider which reduces and even turns off the 3D effect but as the company has focused so heavily on titles like Pokemon and Nintendogs thereby appealing almost exclusively to young gamers it makes the inclusion of 3D tech a bit baffling.  It probably explains why Nintendo showed off titles geared towards a more mature audience like Pilotwings, Starfox and Metal Gear Solid on the new handheld as part of their E3 keynote.

Nintendo happily point out they are working with experts to establish best practice, but as they have a vested interest, call me sceptical but would it be better to have independent research carried out on the effects of 3D, before 3D technology becomes omni-present in hand-helds, home consoles, cinema screenings, TV channels and elsewhere.

Like I previously mentioned, I’m sure there is a certain amount of ass-covering going on in Sony’s updated ToS and it’s fair to say that Sony’s PlayStation 3 content isn’t aimed towards young family members, but this will all change with the launch of Move as Sony attempts to expand their install-base beyond core users and into the more casual arena which generally populated by families.

Given that the TV forms the central part of families entertainment needs, helped in part by multimedia powerhouses like the PlayStation 3 and the world of content it brings, should families even be considering a 3D TV, until more research is done on its affects, particularly on younger family members?

After spending a great deal of time looking for research I can only find anecdotal quotes from companies with a vested interest, and it’s unclear whether this advice is just ass-covering or there could actually be harm done to people who consume 3D content. Particularly as anyone who’s in the market for a 3DTV is likely to consume as much 3D TV programming, 3D movies and 3D gaming as possible, As the industry rushes into that market in an effort to sell as many TVs as possible.

Following on from the Eyecare Trust report claiming that 3D may be unsuitable for 12% of the population, the highlighting of the fact that any 3D imagery is entirely unsuitable for youngsters, and that anyone with children should seek doctors advice before viewing 3D puts a bit of a dampener on things. 3D adoption, at least in its current form may have a difficult mountain to climb.