So whilst E3 is going on the rest of the world doesn’t stop, as demonstrated by this article posted on MIT’s Technology Review on glasses free 3D. 3D does seem to be the big buzz for Sony at this year’s show, but Microsoft’s research team seem to have a trick up their sleeve when it comes to removing the cumbersome glasses from the picture.
By using a very special wedge shaped lens that allows them to accurately control where light goes Microsoft seems to have developed glasses free 3D that works no matter where you position yourself. How’s the wedge know where you are? Apparently it uses a camera for head tracking, which then alters the way light enters the lens so that the 3D illusion is maintained. Currently the system can provide two users with stereoscopic views, or four users with 2D viewing. The 2D viewing may seem a little odd, but think of it as a privacy screen, essentially it can send different 2D images to each of the four users (the same is true of the 3D).
Whilst the lens does sounds a little cumbersome initially but Steven Batchie, head of Microsoft’s Applied Sciences Group, says the lens is actually thin enough that it can be easily integrated into a standard LCD display. It uses a highly controlled array of LEDs to at the bottom of the lens to control the way light bounces within the lens and ultimately exits, generating the 3D experience. The use of these LEDs mean that the system essentially replaces the backlighting in a more traditional display, and even the cameras are integrated into the display meaning that there’s no extra peripherals needed for the system to work.
Personally I think glasses free 3D is the way forwards, although I’m not sure if this system will be it. Due to the refresh rate available on LCD displays the system is only able to accommodate a maximum of two 3D users at a time, hardly ideal for a large gathering. Hopefully they find a way around the limitation and the idea becomes more than a proof of concept.
Via: Engadget
Jas-n
Hmmm, Still not full HD per eye, and requires you to sit in front of the TV for 3D to work.
Jas-n
Alright didn’t read it, but what happens with two people sitting on different sides of the TV?
Raen
It works, it seems. As it’s using the refresh rate on the TV to direct an image per eye per frame and light on each frame can direct wherever they want it can show two people the same 3D image or in fact different images.
cc_star
I don’t know anything about this MS solution, but autostereoscopic solutions which feature eye tracking and show different images to people sitting in different positions in the same room.
Kind of like showing 2 TV channels simutaneously, or one person playing a video game and the other watching TV… make no difference if its a 2D or a 3D image being shown (just extra expense for a while)
jimmy-google
It’s already used in Sat Nav’s so ther front passenger can watch something else while the driver uses the Sat Nav
Raen
@cc_star Yes it’s basically that, although the integration into the monitor they’ve managed is impressive at the prototype stage. And yeah showing different images is very cool.
@jimmy-google It’s not like that. That (I believe) works in the same way as holograms that you get on cards and old cereal boxes. It’s a fixed perspective thing, not tracking you.
cam the man
Not the glasses free 3D everyone wants.
jimmy-google
The real holy grail would be decent 3D without the need to replace your current TV.
ScottW-1976
Not for the TV manufacturers it wouldn’t, and therein lies the problem. Its is not in their interest to make a simple and cheap solution, so we wont get one.
Raen
Um this stuff doesn’t, the video linked in the articles shows the head tracking allowing them to move about quite happily. The whole point is that you don’t have to sit still, the article kinda slams the sitting still TVs. And I think it’s full HD per eye as it’s dividing up the refresh rate on a 240Hz TV to give 60Hz per eye (or per user in 2D mode).
Nauraph
I think 3D without glasses for a bigger crowd is something of the future. Sounds awesome for oneplayer games, but sounds too expensive for that single use only.
cc_star
Autostereoscopic 3D (3D without the need for glasses of any kind) is quite an advanced technology.
There are many problem preventing it turning into a commercial product though, I’d expect by the end of the lifespan of the current crop of 3DTVs something will be available
Raen
Me to. It’s getting there, just slowly. I think this particular approach will always be limited due to the refresh rate barrier, but it’s a good attempt and the head tracking approach may lead to something.
redmik71
“The 2D viewing may seem a little odd, but think of it as a privacy screen, essentially it can send different 2D images to each of the four users (the same is true of the 3D).”
How cool would that be for multiplayer splitscreen gaming?
All have your own screen, perfect for stopping your opponents quickly glancing at your screen. And you could be sent messages and missions “Kill Player2 for bonus”
Probably wont work properly though!
Raen
I know that’d be pretty awesome! I’ve seen similar stuff before, but it only works when you’re sitting in the right position. It’s cool that this works wherever.
Jimster71
You could play a game while your other half watches something else. As long as one or both of you wore earphones.
cc_star
That way I couldn’t hear either, double win!
jimmy-google
I think that would p!ss my wife off more than me playing games and hogging the TV all the time.
jimmy-google
Sounds like this is a long way off. 3D without glasses is nowhere near the quality of those using glasses.
I think 3D glasses will be something you buy for yourself like driving glasses, reading glasses etc… which no-one seems to have an issue with. You may well get 3D intergrated into your normal glasses with simple switch to turn them on. With charging now possible wirelessly you will simply leave your glasses on a charging pad over night.
Raen
Really? People I know who only need glasses for one activity seem to be perpetually loosing them or not really wanting to put them on. That’s how I see 3D glasses.
cc_star
I’ve never lost my headset, so I don’t see how anyone can lose something bigger
jimmy-google
I’ve never lost mine. I’ve also never had issues wearing 3D glasses over the top of them either. The Samsung 3D TV ones were very comfortable too.
bunimomike
If you can lose something the size of Madeline McCann, you can definitely lose a pair of specs when you go out for a meal nearby. ;-)
Radboud
So will it be that the image will be exactly the same no matter if you move your head?
The thing I really liked is that when you move your head, with the glasses-3D, the background images moves apart from the foreground images.
If the screen always transports the image to your eyes no matter where you are, than if you move, the image stays the same.
Raen
I would imagine the illusion will be the same as it is with glasses, perhaps better as the 3D glasses are not tracking your perspective.
Radboud
So that would mean you have to have a starting position? Some sort of initialization setup to get your perspective right, otherwise you would always see things in perspective. Something that tracks your angle and your position must no what the original/rest angle and position must be before being able to put perspective into your movement.
The illusion of the glasses-3D is because the screen is static and produces light in one direction.
Still, it would be cool if they get this thing right, but real commercial use will be far off I guess…
Jas-n
yeah but you only get a max of 2 people, whereas Active shutter, limitless.
Raen
@Jas-n Yeah the limit of two people is pretty sucky, I happily admit limitless is better. Limitless no glasses is obviously the long term goal.
Jas-n
Might not happen properly for quite a few years, they need to get the limits removed, whilst it’d be nice to not have to wear glasses, its the only option at the moment, as you get…
-FULL HD per eye,
-limitless users
-3D viewing angles on par with 2D flat panels
Raen
It doesn’t say it explicitly in the source, but I would imagine you get full HD per eye with this tech as it’s just a clever use of lenses and refresh rates. I’m also not sure on the viewing angles, but I would imagine they’re similar to LCD, although the cameras ability to see you may be more of a limit than the lens.
As for having unlimited numbers of people, this is the big issue. It’s even a bit of an issue with active shutter given the cost of active shutter glasses, particularly compare to polarised. In general I think we’re still a way from any 3D tech being perfected.
FoxHoundGabe
Now THIS is the 3D id spend money on.
Raen
Same, I really don’t want glasses.
jimmy-google
It sounds like they’re taking the lense out of the glasses and sticking them in the screen. The camera being required for head tracking is a big draw back.
I often have over 6 people watching something in the same room (somethimes double figures – like for the football). How much processing power will be needed to track every head? The wedge controlling the light sounds clever but it seems to be bolted to something very similar to Kinect to make it work. I wonder how possible (using the way light bounces through one lense) it will be to get more than 2 watching in 3D. At the moment I couldn’t even get enough people watching 2D using this.
I’d take glasses over this as the cost of the glasses will be very cheap by the time this gets to a workable state.
Raen
Yes the limit sucks, but hopefully it can be resolved in the future. Whilst it is bolted to head tracking, the camera is built into the screen, so no extra bits lying about. Everything fits inside a fairly normal size LCD display.
As for the Kinect type of issue head tracking is significantly more advanced than the type of tracking they’re doing in Kinect. Hell you can do it inside a web browser for augmented reality with a standard web cam.
Processing power may be an issue, but the cost of processing is on a steep downwards slope. Given that TVs are now getting announced with Cell processors inside, it doesn’t seem crazy to track a large number of people.
And yes, it’s limited right now but it’s not commercial, it’s a lab prototype. It has a long way to go.
TSBonyman
Gosh, this is interesting and unexpected. It could go nicely with Microsofts controller-free kinect strategy too. No controller, no glasses..
Radboud
next thing: no tv..
TSBonyman
Lol yes, truly virtual gaming :)
jimmy-google
The formats that will be be used the most will be the one that can provide the best quality for the cheapest amount of money allowing the most amount of people to view it.
I can’t see this being the solution.
Radboud
It is really a cool thing for laptops, mobile phones, MP4-players, tablet pc’s, etc. Things you generally watch alone and from not to far away.
The position-tracking is very much used already (the new Bravia LX900 (among others) has it to direct the 5.1 sound and to switch off if you come to close).
Really neat to see how these things develop…
Raen
That’s a brilliant point I hadn’t considered, very much in line with the 3DS.