Glasses-less 3D Tech Explained
We explore the 3D technologies possibly being used in Nintendo's 3DS.
by Chris Burke
March 23, 2010 - Yes, a new DS is coming, and while that isn't shocking news in itself, the fact that it'll be packing some form of 3D display is something no one expected. But how does Nintendo actually plan to get the 3DS's images to jump off the screen without using glasses? We look into the technologies Nintendo may be implementing in their latest device.
No glasses means the 3DS's screen will have to be able to switch between 2D and 3D modes and display a solid image - none of that blurry double-vision junk. There are currently three ways of doing this: with a camera, with a motion sensor, or with special screen technology.
The camera-tracking approach is similar to the way the Wii works, but in reverse. When you use a Wiimote, you're actually holding a simple camera which tracks the position of the two infrared lights in the Sensor Bar. The console itself then converts that video signal into motion. The way it would work on the 3DS is by having a camera on the device track the motions of your head, like Microsoft's Natal. That video signal is then translated into motion on the screen, which creates a simulated 3D effect. Moving your head in any direction would also move the game-world, giving the illusion of depth.
Of course, having to move your head to make things look 3D is less than ideal, and the tracking technology would take a toll on the 3DS's processor. But if the handheld does end up using NVIDIA's Tegra chip, as has been rumored, it's possible developers will have a bit more power to work with.
Another tracking approach uses a built-in motion sensor. Instead of following the movement of your head, it translates the tilt of the device itself into a shift in perspective. But again, to really see the 3D effect, motion is required.
The alternative to motion is an actual 3D display that requires no glasses. Products using this kind of technology have been shown at electronics trade-shows over the past few years. By adding light-blocking screens called 'parallax barriers' it's possible to redirect the left-eye and right-eye images without glasses. The barriers can also be switched off to display in regular 2D mode. The downsides are that the barriers reduce the brightness of the screen, and the 3D effect is only visible within a limited viewing range - which is why the technology hasn't made its way to regular sized TVs. The upside is that it requires no additional processing and it's genuine 3D.
Depending on which technology Nintendo ends up using, it's possible that the 3D effect will only be visible to the person using the 3DS. If you were to look at someone else's screen you'd either see a regular image in the case of the head-tracking tech, or a distorted image in the case of the parallax barriers. The tilt-sensing version is the only one that works with multiple viewers.
More news about the 3DS is sure to come between now and E3, so stay tuned to Gear for updates.
As reported by IGN.
