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James Cameron is getting behind the cameras again to direct his new mega-budget movie, Avatar. What will be different, however, is that the movie will primarily be a 3D movie, using new 3D camera technology and requiring viewers to wear special glasses.
A small clip was previewed at Comic-Con, and audiences were thrilled with advances in 3D technology.
This is the latest in the recent trend of movies being released in 3D, Bolt and Ice Age 3 were prime recent examples. The cost of producing 3D is insignificant compared to extra revenue at the box office, and people seem to be willing to pay more for the full 3D experience at the cinemas.
There has also been several releases of 3D DVDs and Blu-ray movies, although most of them still using older anaglyph technology (those red and blue glasses). CE firms are keen to expand 3D for home viewing by having a standard in place for polarization or active shutter technology. Nvidia is also getting into the game with the GeForce 3D Vision kit, although it will also require gamers to upgrade their monitor to 120 Hz models - it uses the most advanced 3D technology available for home use, active-shutter technology, which requires special glasses with LCD shutters that is timed with the monitor so that each eye is only seeing the "right" perspective at any one time, thus producing 3D images. The reason 120 Hz monitors are required is because as each eye is only seeing half the images, the resulting refresh rate is half of the monitor's - today's 60 Hz monitors would mean each eye is only seeing 30 Hz, which is not enough to ensure a smooth picture.
It's still too early to tell if we're just going through another phase in our love, hate, relationship with 3D, or that the technology is finally here to make 3D a viable alternative to traditional 2D movies. My feeling is that people are ready for 3D, although it will never be mainstream until no glasses are required for the viewer (holographic technology anyone?).
More on Avatar and it's new 3D filming techniques:
A small clip was previewed at Comic-Con, and audiences were thrilled with advances in 3D technology.
This is the latest in the recent trend of movies being released in 3D, Bolt and Ice Age 3 were prime recent examples. The cost of producing 3D is insignificant compared to extra revenue at the box office, and people seem to be willing to pay more for the full 3D experience at the cinemas.
There has also been several releases of 3D DVDs and Blu-ray movies, although most of them still using older anaglyph technology (those red and blue glasses). CE firms are keen to expand 3D for home viewing by having a standard in place for polarization or active shutter technology. Nvidia is also getting into the game with the GeForce 3D Vision kit, although it will also require gamers to upgrade their monitor to 120 Hz models - it uses the most advanced 3D technology available for home use, active-shutter technology, which requires special glasses with LCD shutters that is timed with the monitor so that each eye is only seeing the "right" perspective at any one time, thus producing 3D images. The reason 120 Hz monitors are required is because as each eye is only seeing half the images, the resulting refresh rate is half of the monitor's - today's 60 Hz monitors would mean each eye is only seeing 30 Hz, which is not enough to ensure a smooth picture.
It's still too early to tell if we're just going through another phase in our love, hate, relationship with 3D, or that the technology is finally here to make 3D a viable alternative to traditional 2D movies. My feeling is that people are ready for 3D, although it will never be mainstream until no glasses are required for the viewer (holographic technology anyone?).
More on Avatar and it's new 3D filming techniques:
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