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BIGGER IN JAPAN?
Listed under: Comments
Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Hail, the third dimension! What does 3D mean to you, set within a home entertainment subtext?
To me it brings latent memories back to life. Let me take you back to my formative days as a suburban Essex-dwelling ankle biter. The excitement I felt at receiving a cheap and tacky pair of cardboard glasses, free with the newspaper, equipped with one red and one green lens, was boundless. These, my father informed me, would bring the film, Jaws III, to life. This left me ambivalent, but enraptured with both fear and anticipation. Whether, I actually used them or not, I can’t remember. This, to me, speaks volumes about how effective the concept actually was, way back in the early 80s. But we loved the idea…
Jaws 3-D, the cinematic version, had been specifically filmed in conjunction with two 3D consultants at a time when 3D, as a gimmick, was becoming rather en vogue. Far from prevalent, however, the débuting director Joe Alves sought to gain “an edge” by embracing this new-fangled technology. Employed to increase the impact of an already suspense-rich series, its use was most apparent during the title sequences, a dramatic scene in which the shark burst through some glass and during the ravenous underwater predator’s ultimate destruction.
Despite Alves’s efforts, 3D didn't exactly set the world on fire, and his handiwork was rarely witnessed in action outside of the cinemas, despite some efforts to bring the 3D images home.
to the IMAX
It took 3D a while to truly ingrain itself in the public consciousness. Fast forward to 1997, when London gave birth to its first 3D IMAX cinema. Two years later, the flagship London IMAX, located on the South Bank, opened, serving up three dimensional images on the biggest screen ever witnessed in the UK. That IMAX cinemas offer incredible pictures capable of thrusting you into the action is beyond doubt. However, it would be hard to be so enthusiastic about the scratch-your-eyes-out-rather-than-sit-through-another-minute content they often serve up. Nevertheless, the brand remains a popular one, which has done much for the proliferation of 3D.
Back in the home, we’ve been too focussed on reducing the dimensions of our screens and improving the image quality to truly miss that hitherto elusive third dimension. However, this shouldn’t prove the case for much longer. Or at least it won’t if the major players in Japan have their way.
October was a big month for some of the industry’s biggest names. It was the month of CEATEC, Japan's biggest information technology and electronics fair, and 2009 appears to have been something of a watershed year. The focus, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, was no longer the AV equivalent of a lovely legs competition, with the various entrants parading their slimmest and sexiest wares for the populace.
With the market for flatscreen TVs as clogged-up as a cholesterol-ridden artery, it is hoped that new, relatively low-cost 3D technologies will prove eye-catching enough to get the buying public up on their feet and ready to part with their cash once more. Thanks to the impact of IMAX and recent 3D blockbuster hits such as Bolt, these TVs are the new great white hope.
Sony used CEATEC to display a range of BRAVIA LCD TVs capable of showing 3D images, which it plans to launch next year. However, there was no new OLED screen to be found, which suggests a change of focus. The new BRAVIA options were joined on the rostrum by a high-end video camera with 3D capabilities.
Pana-ramic!
Panasonic is also in on the act, jostling for positions with Sony in an attempt to lead the early running. Not content with showing off a 102-inch 3D TV at the recent IFA show, CEATEC witnessed the first public showing of a far more compact and practical 50-inch model. Set for commercial release in early 2010, this is poised to be the first of its kind to hit the market. Be sure to check it out at CES! It has everything those free glasses offered, but could never quite deliver back in 1983. Finally, I’ve been satisfied… Panasonic is also readying a 3D capable professional stereo video camera and Blu-ray player for production. Enthused spokesperson Akira Kadoka commented: “We want to establish ourselves as the 3D leader, and so Panasonic is focusing its efforts in this area.”
Sharp joined the party, unveiling its 60-inch 3D LCD TV. This comes equipped with LED backlighting for brighter images and some fresh innovations designed to create a better illusion of depth. Sharp, however, have yet to commit to a launch and won’t until a steady flow of content can be guaranteed.
Not wanting to be left out of the exclusive 3D club, Hitachi introduced an eye-friendly display that can create 3D images from all angles without the use of special eyewear. So, if you’re the kind of fashionista who wouldn’t be seen dead in those rather clumsy shutter glasses, this is the one for you. Even Toshiba are in on the 3D act, although having had their fingers burnt during the whole HD-DVD debacle, they are wisely holding off on commercial production at this point in time.
So ended CEATEC 2009, a writer's dream because there was finally something new and inspiring to talk about. We only hope the products prove as inspiring for you, if and when they hit your shop shelves next year…
Jaws 3-D, the cinematic version, had been specifically filmed in conjunction with two 3D consultants at a time when 3D, as a gimmick, was becoming rather en vogue. Far from prevalent, however, the débuting director Joe Alves sought to gain “an edge” by embracing this new-fangled technology. Employed to increase the impact of an already suspense-rich series, its use was most apparent during the title sequences, a dramatic scene in which the shark burst through some glass and during the ravenous underwater predator’s ultimate destruction.
Despite Alves’s efforts, 3D didn't exactly set the world on fire, and his handiwork was rarely witnessed in action outside of the cinemas, despite some efforts to bring the 3D images home.
to the IMAX
It took 3D a while to truly ingrain itself in the public consciousness. Fast forward to 1997, when London gave birth to its first 3D IMAX cinema. Two years later, the flagship London IMAX, located on the South Bank, opened, serving up three dimensional images on the biggest screen ever witnessed in the UK. That IMAX cinemas offer incredible pictures capable of thrusting you into the action is beyond doubt. However, it would be hard to be so enthusiastic about the scratch-your-eyes-out-rather-than-sit-through-another-minute content they often serve up. Nevertheless, the brand remains a popular one, which has done much for the proliferation of 3D.
Back in the home, we’ve been too focussed on reducing the dimensions of our screens and improving the image quality to truly miss that hitherto elusive third dimension. However, this shouldn’t prove the case for much longer. Or at least it won’t if the major players in Japan have their way.
October was a big month for some of the industry’s biggest names. It was the month of CEATEC, Japan's biggest information technology and electronics fair, and 2009 appears to have been something of a watershed year. The focus, for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, was no longer the AV equivalent of a lovely legs competition, with the various entrants parading their slimmest and sexiest wares for the populace.
With the market for flatscreen TVs as clogged-up as a cholesterol-ridden artery, it is hoped that new, relatively low-cost 3D technologies will prove eye-catching enough to get the buying public up on their feet and ready to part with their cash once more. Thanks to the impact of IMAX and recent 3D blockbuster hits such as Bolt, these TVs are the new great white hope.
Sony used CEATEC to display a range of BRAVIA LCD TVs capable of showing 3D images, which it plans to launch next year. However, there was no new OLED screen to be found, which suggests a change of focus. The new BRAVIA options were joined on the rostrum by a high-end video camera with 3D capabilities.
Pana-ramic!
Panasonic is also in on the act, jostling for positions with Sony in an attempt to lead the early running. Not content with showing off a 102-inch 3D TV at the recent IFA show, CEATEC witnessed the first public showing of a far more compact and practical 50-inch model. Set for commercial release in early 2010, this is poised to be the first of its kind to hit the market. Be sure to check it out at CES! It has everything those free glasses offered, but could never quite deliver back in 1983. Finally, I’ve been satisfied… Panasonic is also readying a 3D capable professional stereo video camera and Blu-ray player for production. Enthused spokesperson Akira Kadoka commented: “We want to establish ourselves as the 3D leader, and so Panasonic is focusing its efforts in this area.”
Sharp joined the party, unveiling its 60-inch 3D LCD TV. This comes equipped with LED backlighting for brighter images and some fresh innovations designed to create a better illusion of depth. Sharp, however, have yet to commit to a launch and won’t until a steady flow of content can be guaranteed.
Not wanting to be left out of the exclusive 3D club, Hitachi introduced an eye-friendly display that can create 3D images from all angles without the use of special eyewear. So, if you’re the kind of fashionista who wouldn’t be seen dead in those rather clumsy shutter glasses, this is the one for you. Even Toshiba are in on the 3D act, although having had their fingers burnt during the whole HD-DVD debacle, they are wisely holding off on commercial production at this point in time.
So ended CEATEC 2009, a writer's dream because there was finally something new and inspiring to talk about. We only hope the products prove as inspiring for you, if and when they hit your shop shelves next year…
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