3D technology evolves with launch of new smart phones and glasses-free devices

Criticism of 3D technology has largely revolved around the need to use special glasses when watching 3D footage. But the latest LG phone has done away with the specs, and made 3D mobile.

The LG Optimus 3D Smart Phone, launched in Dubai last week, claims to be the world's first tri-dual architecture 3D smart phone.

The device, which is dual-core, dual channel and dual-memory, will also give users the ability to convert 2D content into 3D. Photos and videos either captured using the phone or imported, can be converted by the phone and played back in 3D.

"3D technology has grown beyond being a buzzword. Today 3D technology has become the mainstream of people's life style," reveals H.S Paik, president of LG Electronics in the Gulf.

Not just early adopters buying 3D enabled devices

It's a view which is gaining traction in the Middle East. Ashish Panjabi, COO of Jacky's Electronics, says the number of products with 3D is increasing in both quantity and popularity. "Initially, we saw sales of 3D products from early adopters and we're moving towards a stage where 3D technology is being embedded in many products that we retail today. Whether consumers buy those products solely because it has 3D features is debatable but most high-end televisions for example, are all 3D compatible," Panjabi tells AMEinfo.com.

What has become apparent in recent months is that 3D technology is not just a trend which will pass with time. But this does not mean that it is easy to predict which direction the technology will move. "How 3D evolves depends greatly on the applications that exist for it, whether it is gaming, television or movie content, apps, on smart phones and tablets, or on content capture devices like cameras," adds Panjabi.

Amount of 3D content is biggest hurdle

The major obstacle now facing 3D technology stems from the amount of content which is available on the platform. A media device is only as good as its content, and although devices such as the LG Optimus 3D partly address this issue with its ability to convert 2D media, it's still a huge concern.

"There is close to no 3D broadcasting. The region has been behind the rest of the world when it comes to broadcast technologies as even a popular satellite provider like OSN has only 17 channels broadcasting in HD whereas in most mature markets, increasingly most of the broadcasting has moved to HD already. 3D is still a dream for many people when it comes to broadcasting," says Panjabi.

Health questions regarding 3D technology remain

Another major issue associated with 3D technology has been health concerns. These have been raised in particular with technology which does not require glasses. "Many of the early glasses-free technologies can still result in people getting headaches or getting dizzy depending on the type of content they're viewing. Glasses-only 3D technology is expensive and unsociable as you don't want to restrict the number of people who watch a television by how many glasses a person owns," states Panjabi.

However, LG's Paik was quick to dismiss fears over health, saying the new LG Optimus 3D had been tested and was safe to use without a damaging effect on the eyes. LG has been a big promoter of 3D technology and recently secured a "Flicker Free" certification from European quality assurance agencies TÜV and Intertek, meaning viewers can watch 3D for longer periods without the headaches or dizziness that sometimes occurred with older 3D sets.

Three dimensional technology is now entering a new phase as it becomes more mobile and begins the process of shedding the much maligned glasses. However, it seems the consumer electronics industry still needs to address concerns over health and content to ensure that the future is viewed in 3D.

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