Following several years of new concepts and limited releases from names including Toshiba and Philips, glasses-free 3D looks to be reaching the commercial market on the large scale. StreamTV announced the release of its Ultra-D technology at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
After a relatively small-scale adoption of 3D technology - including in the UK’s Heathrow Airport’s designated security areas, an install performed by Exceptional 3D and written about previously here - Ultra-D displays including a 4K PC monitor and a 65-in UHD TV are in mainstream production at StreamTV.
The displays feature award-winning proprietary hardware and software to allow users to watch all content in fully adjustable 4K glasses-free 3D. The technology can be applied to any screen type, and has significant potential for digital signage applications.
At CES 2016, StreamTV Network’s implementation of light fields and defractive indexes to deliver the 3D effect (rather than tracking software), made its public debut on a nine-screen horizontal video wall and three-screen vertical wall. StreamTV also displayed an updated live cable TV feed that can provide real-time conversion into Ultra-D.
Reflecting on the issue of content, CEO of StreamTV Networks CEO Mathu Rajan said: "Existing content can be transformed by our algorithms.” Ultra-D devices feature a Unity Engine plugin for glasses-free immersive gaming experiences, and will soon add support for OpenGL and DirectX 12 technologies.
The company has partnered with Pegatron to build panels and distribute 55-in and 65-in HDTVs and 27-in and 32-in PC monitors, with IZON TV currently taking pre-orders.
Inception Visual’s Ultra-D digital signage systems are currently being piloted in hospitality and transportation markets, with future plans for use in delivering retail and sport content. A 60HZ rendering system is also in development to be launched next year.
Rajan has affirmed that he believes 2016 will be “a breakout year for glasses-free,” and that the technology may be implemented in VR devices too.