3D HDTVs - 3D TV Basics

Viewing movies and shows in HD can already be quite overwhelming.
Especially for people who have been used to the CRT screens of the 20th century, they see a level of detail that was never seen yet in such large, clear screen.

But instead of being satisfied with these HD 2D images, there has been quite a trend lately in the big screens to feature movies in 3D. For those who have seen a 3D movie in its full HD glory, it must have been a thrilling experience.
Fortunately, consumer electronics companies around the world felt that they could market this technology to the HDTV industry, and thus the first set of 3D HDTV's are born.
In this article we shall discuss some of the basic points that you need (and may want) to know about these entertainment machines of the 21st century.

What is a 3D HDTV? A 3D HDTV is exactly described as it is: it is a type of modern high-definition television unit that is capable of presenting and rendering the images that it displays in 3D.
To the average person, whatever image is seen in front of the screen would have an illusionary depth that would make it seem like the object is just right in front of the television.
The 3D HDTV consumer electronic product line is an attempt to upgrade or "take to the next level" the already high-quality viewing experience that HDTV's already have. Although such feature is not really justified practically, for some people adding a 3D element to standard HDTV's is the next logical step to visual entertainment technology.
How can a 3D HDTV display 3D images? The technology of 3D HDTV display usually plays around the fact that the eyes can usually sense depth and perceive another spatial dimension in an object if certain points of light travel and strike the object.
For example, we know that a wooden cube sitting on a table is 3D because light hits it in a way that even if we change our perspective, three sides can be seen.
For 3D HDTV's the image still stays flat, but the unit creates the illusion of depth and distance by modifying the way light hits our eye. There are many techniques adopted by 3D HDTV's to produce 3D images, and some of the most popularly used ones are: Stereoscopy - the cheapest and easiest method for 3D imaging.

Almost all forms of stereoscopy require the use of 3D glasses to work.

The technique incorporates the use of two separate stereo pairs of images that are shifted or have offset perspectives, so that when the two eyes process the visual information, it would give us the perception of depth.

The modified color anaglyph stereoscopy system instead uses two images that have different base colors (this uses the traditional red-cyan 3D glasses).
Autostereoscopy - a more advanced technique in 3D imaging the does not need the use of augmenting visual equipment. The most common method used to achieve autostereoscopy is the parallax barrier method. This method is achieved by accurately installing very thin films in the display screen, allowing the viewer to see two different sets of pixels that can be modified to do the exact effects of stereoscopy.
Since the image was altered on the screen itself, you don't need to use glasses to appreciate the 3D effect.

Do I need a 3D HDTV? Though 3D HDTV's may seem the next step in the evolution of televisions, there is actually no absolute need for it if the feature is more or less optional to you.

It all depends on the preferences of the one that would purchase the unit.

If you are a fan of 3D theatrical presentations that you see in IMAX cinema, then a 3D HDTV could be a must for you.
Just remember though, not everyone is able to see the illusionary depth presented in the unit's 3D imaging technology, and some people even feel a considerable amount of discomfort watching in 3D, so you'll have to widen the scope of the 3D HDTV specifications outside its physical capabilities.