baltimoresun.com

« MTV's Jersey Shore -- a summer reading list | Main | Atomic Books loves the memoir »

January 7, 2010

Why 3D TV viewing fails

3D TV

Even as Americans get accustomed to HDTV and Blu-ray disc players, the electronics industry is marching forward, pushing 3D television. ESPN has unveiled a 3D network that will broadcast at least 85 live sporting events; Discovery, Imax and Sony are planning an entertainment channel. And TV manufacturers are rolling out new models with 3D capability, including this 152-inch behemoth from Panasonic.

The prospect of watching sports and movies in 3D is enticing. But the technology will face a huge hurdle: the way we watch TV these days. If you're like me, you watch a show with a book or magazine in one hand, so you can catch up on your reading during timeouts or commercials. I'm now reading Daniyal Mueenuddin's short story collection, "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders," which lends itself to such short bursts. But I can't imagine whipping off those goofy 3D glasses every time I turn back to my reading -- or make a phone call or check email on my BlackBerry. So until the technology advances, allowing us to jettison the glasses, 3D will be limited to the gee-whiz, special occasion category of TV viewing. Great for a dark movie theater, but hellish at home.

Posted by Dave Rosenthal at 10:19 AM | | Comments (9)
        

Comments

This doesn't sound appealing to me at all. We saw Coraline in 3-D and I felt woozy afterward. It might be because I struggle with vertigo, but I'm not anxious to repeat the experience.

Kathy, it's funny how some people react to movies. My wife felt seasick during "Blair Witch," which had all those jerky, hand-held camera shots. Mybe the 3D glasses should come with a dose of Dramamine.

Back a few years ago I saw all the news articles that said why 3d would not last at the theaters. Now that that argument is not holding water anymore it is now onto why 3d won't hold up for tv's. The problem with this argment has the same problems I saw with the theater agument. They weren't looking at the numbers.

People that don't like 3d have blinders on and I gues believe there is not a significant amount of people that are going for and like 3d. We have 2d showings of these movies, even at most mutiplexes it is in 2d in one room and 3d in another. Yet people are by passing the 2d and buying 3d tickets 2 and some times 4 to one.

If people like 3d they are not going to care that much about any inconvinence that those who dislike it can come up with. That is why all the arguments against 3d in the theater did now stop people from buying the tickets. Not everyone will have home 3d, but many will.

There are a lot of people with monocular vision - either because one eye is blind or because their eyes just don't focus together. 3D is wasted in this situation and it is just annoying and frustrating for those folks. I know, I'm one of them. (And I know of at least 3 friends off the top of my head who'd say the same.)

Another issue with 3d tv is you have to be sitting a certain distance form the screen or it doesn't look right. Also, viewing it from an angle can produce unsatisfactory results. That being said, I look forward to the day when I can watch the Superbowl in 3d at home.

Personally, I can't wait until a 3D TV is in the budget, but I do agree that the glasses would be a hassle for every day use. I will mostly use it for movies.

Im think 3D TV is Great. Im want to get Samsung Plasma 3D TV. The only problem i see is the 3D TV Glasses are too expensive and if theres a family of 6 then its gona cost too much for you all to watch the TV.

Another issue with 3d tv is you have to be sitting a certain distance form the screen or it doesn't look right. Also, viewing it from an angle can produce unsatisfactory results. That being said, I look forward to the day when I can watch the Superbowl in 3d at home.

Hayrettin izle

Superbowl in 3D would be sweet - hadn't thought of that!

Post a comment

All comments must be approved by the blog author. Please do not resubmit comments if they do not immediately appear. You are not required to use your full name when posting, but you should use a real e-mail address. Comments may be republished in print, but we will not publish your e-mail address. Our full Terms of Service are available here.

Verification (needed to reduce spam):

-- ADVERTISEMENT --

Map: Bookstores


View Favorite Bookstores in a larger map
About the blogger
Dave Rosenthal came to The Baltimore Sun as a business reporter in 1987 and now is the Maryland Editor. He reads a wide range of books (but never as many as he'd like), usually alternating between non-fiction and fiction. Some all-time favorites: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole; Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; and anything by Calvin Trillin or John McPhee. He belongs to a book club with a Jewish theme.
Most Recent Comments
Baltimore Sun coverage
Sign up for FREE nightlife alerts
Get free Sun alerts sent to your mobile phone.*
Get free Baltimore Sun mobile alerts
Sign up for nightlife text alerts

Returning user? Update preferences.
Sign up for more Sun text alerts
*Standard message and data rates apply. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions.
Edgar Allan Poe is 200!
All you need to know about the macabre master including Poe-themed events, photos, video and a trivia quiz.

Stay connected