3-D TV Phenomenon Expected by 2010

If you're an avid moviegoer, you've no doubt noticed the increasingly popular 3-dimensional films making their way into American cinematic pop culture. For the most part, these flicks have remained within the children's genre, promoted by renowned production companies such as Disney/Pixar, etc. Titles such as Monsters vs. Aliens (DreamWorks Animation, 2009)and the more recent Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Sony Pictures Entertainment, 2009) have wowed many a young mind.

Watching mind-boggling images that appear to leap right out of the screen can be an enjoyable experience for children of all ages and even adults. Many a horror film franchise has been remade to incorporate 3-dimensionality, most notably the Final Destination series. After all, what normal American doesn't enjoy the sensation of being attacked by a raging psychopath wielding a chainsaw? And now it seems you won't even have to leave your home or fork out money for a theatre ticket to participate in the 3-D experience.

According to CNN and Newsweek, 3-dimensional television is expected to reach homes within the United States as early as 2010. The cultural movement is being helmed by multinational conglomerate electronics corporations Sony and Panasonic and is being called just as revolutionary as the swap from black and white to color television.

Panasonic Executive Vice President Robert Perry told CNN, "TV finally becomes real. You're in it. It's the next frontier." (Sutter, John D. "3D Television Expected to Come to Homes in 2010." www.cnn.com).

However, as is the case with most new technology, it may take some time for 3-dimensional TV programming to become effective within the normal American cable broadcasting system. For now, the majority of 3-D programs and movies exhibit better quality overall when broadcast on larger flat screen TVs combined with higher grade sound systems (as would most movies and television programs).

Newsweek columnist Daniel Lyons had the privilege of traveling to the North American Panasonic headquarters and experiencing firsthand the company's prototype 3-D system. In his piece "TV's next dimension", Lyons referred to this new system as high-definition television "on steroids...It was, in a word, stunning." (www.newsweek.com)

During the exhibit, Panasonic wowed attendees and press reporters with 3-D footage of the Beijing Olympics, including shots of the inspiring opening ceremonies, torch carrying, and even a soccer game that Lyons called "more vivid and lifelike than anything I've ever seen on a screen."

Unfortunately, 3-D television broadcasts have been highly scrutinized by many conservative scientists and technicians who oppose the new system, citing that it requires twice the amount of digital data to function. Several concerns have been raised that the massiveness of the system will eventually consume an unnecessary amount of TV bandwidth, leaving little to no room for future programming information.

Not to mention, the marketing of the oh-so-fashionable 3-D viewing glasses to American families may be a difficult challenge as well. Countless movie viewers have complained of headaches, nausea, and dizziness after intense 3-D film experiences. These health concerns will naturally rule out a considerable amount of the marketing demographic.

Whether or not you'll be one of countless Americans anticipating 3-dimensional TV, one thing is certain: it won't be long before 3-D DVDs and Blu Ray discs hit stores nationwide.