Television engineers to focus on 'scientific aspects' of 3D entertainment

Believe it or not, it's possible that the consumer electronics industry is putting the 3D TV cart before the technology horse. That's the impression you might get if you read between the lines of what the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPSTE) has in mind with its upcoming 3D conference in New York.

The conference will focus on the "scientific aspects" of 3D entertainment that must be resolved for successful production of live events (such as the World Cup, which is going on now, the Masters, which already went on, and NASCAR racing, which is upcoming) according to Peter Lude, executive VP of SMPTE and chairman of the event. It's assumed that conference attendees understand the basics (read that as hype) surrounding 3D TV. The program hopes to give them a better understand of lab work and field trials now going on.

Even as the engineers plot their course, the CE business moves ahead as if everyone is running out to buy a 3D TV. Monster Cable, better known for connecting HDTVs to set-top boxes and stereo speakers to amplifiers, has become the first company to announce active 3D glasses that will work with any brand of 3D TV. The system, which should hit stores in August, uses an RF transmitter and does not require line-of-sight to see 3D.

Of course it's still probably cheaper to get equipped with prescription spectacles. A pair of Monster glasses, bundled with a transmitter to make them work, runs $249.95. Additional glasses are $269.95 and 3D transmitters are $59.95.

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