The 3D Scam?

This morning, a writer at ZDNet posted an article entitled The 3D Scam: Reject and Repeat . The author refers to the recent reintroduction of 3D movies, along with 3DTVs and 3D gaming systems, as a commercial ploy to convince consumers to pay more for marginal products. Is this really the case?

In fairness to the author, it is well recognized that many viewers have difficulty seeing or enjoying 3D entertainment, largely due to vision problems that can be detected and treated by an optometrist. Even among those who can "see" 3D, many are not able to fully appreciate the depth of the effect; a recent personal hobby in stereo photography has convinced me of this. Many acquaintances who view stereo photographs I have taken, when asked to reach out and "touch" certain objects in the photo while looking stereoscopically, place the virtual image much closer to the photograph than I do. What is the result? For these individuals, 3D loses much of its "wow" effect - the images just don't "jump out" at them the same way, and 3D technology doesn't carry the same value, monetarily or as entertainment.

My opinion on this all? There is no doubt that companies see the potential market for 3D entertainment as profitable - why else would they venture into it? But I, for one, perceive immense value in 3D displays - no 2D display, even of the highest quality, can carry the same effect that simulates the real world. It is one thing to watch football displayed on a flat surface, but quite another to perceive the hole in the defensive line nearly the same as the running back who rushes through it, or the immense length of a pass from the perspective of the receiver chasing it.

And as for the unbelievers and the unimpressed? Maybe they should have their eyes checked... if they could fully appreciate the depth of a good 3D scene, I'm convinced the scam theories would die down, and they would be as excited about this as the rest of us.


Dave