The glasses-free 3D experience that the 3DS gave the world got many people wondering where the technology was headed next. MIT decided to answer that question. They believe that they are working on technology that will bring the 3D experience into living rooms everywhere without the use of horribly gaudy glasses.
The researchers call it HR3D and the technology doesn’t cause the usual loss of resolution or brightness. How is this possible? Well, everything lies in the screen design. Through two layers of liquid-crystal displays, a customized pattern between the layers helps to deliver a crisp, 3D image regardless of your viewing angle.
While the 3DS uses vertical bands, and the parallax-barrier system utilizes pinholes, the HR3D uses a pattern that is unique to the picture beneath it. The pattern was determined through mathematical calculations (of course it was, it’s MIT), and the necessary pattern is quite close to the source image. Basically, they’re taking the vertical slits and adapting them to adjust to what’s being portrayed on the screen. It’s a lot, I know, but they’re working on it. When they perfect it, we’re all going to be enjoying our movies in 3D without looking like fools! Yay!
Image credit: innovationhut.co.uk
