3D Display

3D Display
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_display


A 3D display is any display device capable of conveying three-dimensional images to the viewer. The optical principles of multiview auto-stereoscopy have been known for over a century.[1] Practical displays with a high resolution have recently become available at much lower prices. As a result, the commercialization of 3D displays for entertainment is receiving increasing funding.


Types of 3D displays
[edit] Stereoscopic
Main article: Stereoscopy

Based on the principles of stereopsis, described by Sir Charles Wheatstone in the 1830s, stereoscopic technology uses a separate device for each person viewing the scene to provide a different image to the person's left and right eyes. Examples of this technology include anaglyph images and polarized glasses. Stereoscopic technologies generally involve special spectacles.
[edit] Autostereoscopic
Main article: Autostereoscopy

An evolutionary development of stereoscopy, autostereoscopic display technologies use optical trickery at the display, rather than worn by the user, to ensure that each eye sees the appropriate image. They generally allow the user to move their head a certain amount without destroying the illusion of depth. Automultiscopic displays include view-dependent pixels with different intensities and colors based on the viewing angle; this means that a number of different views of the same scene can be seen by moving horizontally around the display. In most automultiscopic displays the change of view is accompanied by the breakdown of the illusion of depth, but some displays exist which can maintain the illusion as the view changes[2].

This category of display technology includes autostereograms.
[edit] Computer-generated holography
Main article: Computer Generated Holography

The hologram is a familiar artifact of the late 20th century, and research into holographic displays has produced devices which are able to create a light field identical to that which would emanate from the original scene, with both horizontal and vertical parallax across a large range of viewing angles. The effect is similar to looking through a window at the scene being reproduced; this may make CGH the most convincing of the 3D display technologies, but as yet the large amounts of calculation required to generate a detailed hologram largely prevent its application outside of the laboratory. Some companies do produce holographic imaging equipment commercially.[3]
[edit] Volumetric displays
Main article: Volumetric display

In addition there are volumetric displays, where some physical mechanism is used to display points of light within a volume. Such displays use voxels instead of pixels. Volumetric displays include multiplanar displays, which have multiple display planes stacked up; and rotating panel displays, where a rotating panel sweeps out a volume.

Other technologies have been developed to project light dots in the air above a device. An infrared laser is focused on the destination in space, generating a small bubble of plasma which emits visible light. As of August 2008, the experiments only allow a rate of 100 dots per second. One of the issues which arise with this filme 3D display system is the use of technologies that could be harmful to human eyes.
[edit] Problems

Each of these display technologies can be seen to have limitations, whether the location of the viewer, cumbersome or unsightly equipment or great cost. Overcoming the latter is perhaps the key challenge for the budding 3-dimensional imaging sector. The acquisition of artifact-free 3D images remains difficult. Photographers, videographers, and professionals in the broadcast and movie industry are unfamiliar with the complex setup required to record 3D images. There are currently no guidelines or standards for multi-camera parameters, placement, and post- production processing, as there are for conventional 2D television.
[edit] See also

* 3D television
* Autostereoscopy
* Computer generated holography
* Holography
* Lenticular printing
* List of emerging technologies
* Stereoscopic Displays and Applications (annual conference)
* Stereoscopy
* Volumetric display
* Integral imaging

[edit] References

1. ^ Okoshi, Three-Dimensional Imaging Techniques, Academic Press, 1976
2. ^ [1] Holografika, continuous autostereoscopic display manufacturer
3. ^ [2] Zebra Imaging, holography solutions provider

[edit] External links

* Plasma projection in air
* Polaris Sensor Technologies, Inc. 3D Displays
* Get Real 3D Displays, no glasses, Get3DDisplay, LLC
* 3D Displays and TV news and resources