Although 3D has made significant progress in science and technology it has yet to make meaningful inroads in the entertainment arena --- Will things change in 2009-2010?

ColorCode 3-D is sometimes confused with Anaglyph since it uses colored filters in the ColorCodeViewer, however the encoding process is entirely different from the Anaglyph system which is more than 150 years old. The ColorCode 3-D image appears essentially as an ordinary color image with a slightly increased contrast and with distant or sharp edged objects surrounded by faint haloes of golden and bluish tints. When viewed through a ColorCode Viewer the haloes disappear, the color balance is reestablished, and the image is seen in 3-dimensions. The color information is conveyed through the amber filter and the parallax information - to perceive depth - is conveyed through the blue filter. The color results are better than red/cyan or red/blue particularly for flesh tones.

With sports fans just settling in to their high-definition television sets, the National Football League is thinking ahead to 3-D. According to a recent study by Nielsen, gross sales increased by more than 65% for films exhibited in 3-D (versus traditional film only) . It now appears that 3D may be the Wave of the Future.

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE: DWA) and PepsiCo's SoBe Lifewater announced in early January, 2009 that they have joined together with Intel Corporation and NBC to create a first-of-its kind, nationwide ‘Monstrous' 3D event for Super Bowl XLIII. DreamWorks promises that the 3D quality will be better than ever before using Intel InTru 3D and ColorCode 3-D, which updates the old red-blue Anaglyph system. The ColorCode 3D system is a new patented 'cost efficient system' which gives full color reproduction and works on all display types (TV, CRT,LCD and LED)

ColorCode 3-D is sometimes confused with Anaglyph since it uses colored filters in the ColorCodeViewer, however the encoding process is entirely different from the Anaglyph system which is more than 150 years old. The ColorCode 3-D image appears essentially as an ordinary color image with a slightly increased contrast and with distant or sharp edged objects surrounded by faint haloes of golden and bluish tints. When viewed through a ColorCode Viewer the haloes disappear, the color balance is reestablished, and the image is seen in 3-dimensions.

With InTru 3D, Intel and DreamWorks Animation are taking that power up a notch, uniting the best in computer-generated moviemaking with the latest high-performance processing technologies. Thanks to the incredible performance of Intel® processors, DreamWorks Animation artists can fully utilize the newest, state-of-the-art 3D authoring tools to deliver an amazing visual experience with more immersive storytelling.

They are using ColorCode 3-D technology since it is cost efficient and necessary to use with current TV technology. It is possible by the end of 2010 there will be enough 3D ready TVs out there that they use a polarized 3D technology similar to that used in cinemas. (Note: Panasonic is rumored to be showing a 3D-ready plasma set, and is reportedly pitching a 3D technology to the Blu-ray Disc Association in the near future.)

3D visualization enhances understanding of molecular structure Aspirin Molecule in 3D -- If you have a pair of red-green, red-blue or red-cyan glasses you can view a large number of molecules using Jmol which now has Stereoscopic capabilities 3D Molecules using Jmol

Are Polarized 3D glasses a better choice?

Polarized stereoscopic pictures have been around since 1936, when Edwin H. Land first applied it to motion pictures. The so called "3-D movie craze" in the years 1952 through 1955 was almost entirely offered in theaters using polarizing projection and glasses. Only a minute amount of the total 3D films shown in the period used the anaglyph color filter method. What is new is the use of digital projection, and also the use of sophisticated IMAX 70mm film projectors, with very reliable mechanisms. A whole new generation of 3D animation films are beginning to show up in the theaters, all using some form of polarization. Polarization is not easily applied to home 3-D broadcast or DVD presentation. At this point only anaglyph glasses may be used to view the new HD shows and are beginning to be aired occasionally by NBC and the Discovery Channel. Source: Wikipedia

What's in store for 2010?

Sony and Panasonic say they will release home 3-D television systems in 2010; Mitsubishi and JVC are reported to be working on similar products.

Avatar the Movie in 3D uses RealD

"RealD 3D cinema technology uses circularly polarized light to produce stereoscopic images. Circular polarization is preferable to linear polarization because viewers are able to tilt their head and look about the theater naturally with no loss of 3D perception. Linear polarization, on the other hand, requires viewers to keep their head within a certain degree of tilt for effective 3D perception, otherwise they can see double or darkened images" source Wikipedia.

Disadvantages of RealD

"A common complaint with many 3D display systems is that some viewers may feel nauseous or experience a headache. This effect is more likely with rapid cuts between scenes with very different depth, which directors and cutters of 3D movies generally try to avoid. Polarized 3D systems for movies cause a loss of screen brightness. The polarization filter in front of the projector blocks half of the outgoing light, causing an equivalent loss of brightness on the screen. However, as half of all other ambient and reflected (i.e., non-polarized) light in the theater is blocked by the polarizing lenses of the viewer's glasses, there is no loss of contrast between the screen and its surroundings. The overall effect is that of wearing a pair of slightly darkened glasses in a standard movie theater, which could be compensated by using brighter projectors."source Wikipedia.

Read more: 3-D television expected to come to homes in 2010.

FURTHER READING

3-D Films Poised To “See Green” In 2009

Intel News Release: DreamWorks' "Monsters vs. Aliens," PepsiCo's SoBe Lifewater, Intel and NBC Create 'Monstrous' 3D Super Bowl Event

3D TV: Finally Ready for Prime Time?

Market Opportunities for 3D