It seems like yesterday that the consuming public saw HDTV for the first time. Driven by sports and the then-beginning-to-flourish home theater market, HD sets were hailed as the most important thing since color. In a few short years, it became not only (relatively) inexpensive, but today operates at a performance level that would have been easily 5-figures had this level of quality arrived at the turn of the century. With margins slimming to dangerous levels, and an opportunity afforded by BluRay disc, the industry looks to 3D (yes, that 3D) to re-define the television landscape.
3D televisions require glasses for optimum performance. The ones that do not have a very small usable space with which to view content at any reasonable quality level. The small viewing window is reminiscent of the "head in the vice" issue hindering various faux-surround technologies. This presents, as 3D has always presented us, with a problem. Most consumers' reservations about 3D television revolves around the use of a peripheral device, making viewers look like a techy Buddy Holly, just to watch the show. Imagine if everyone had to use headphones to listen to stereo; the medium would probably still only be the province of the dedicated hobbyist.
It's hard to point to current demand and price points as relevant obstacles. Demand will increase as prices fall (as with any other item in the consumer electronics world), the majority of customers will be happy to wait that out, and let early adopters eat depreciation. Many of course still have fully-functional and high performance televisions, while others still simply aren't interested. The major obstacle (and the industry appears to be aware of this) is the lifestyle impediment concerns revolving around expensive and breakable ancillary devices, required or basic use. As the iPod has proven, it isn't really that a certain technology has to be eye-popping from a tech point of view to make the public want it; it's that the technology must perform well at an extreme level of convenience and intuitiveness. Companies that will make the most headway into this arena will develop outstanding images from 3D televisions that will work with any source, and do not require extra stuff to lose, break, or get tired of.
That said, having viewed 3D, the reviewer can happily report that the images are very good, and certain sets can indeed upconvert 2D images to a reasonable level of quality. Premium content providers are launching dedicated 3D televisions. Like the HD dilemma of recent memory, many are saying that the technology is great, but unless one purchases all of the accessories, BluRay player, and the right discs, there is precious little out there to justify the expense. While that isn't entirely accurate, perception in the marketplace drives sales, accurate or not. That said, the promise is there. Once the industry figures out a way to make all content appear as through the viewers are looking into a moving diorama with viewing angles at least as good as an average LCD television, it will hit full stride. As long as they remember that the only spectacles viewers want are on-screen, the technology is poised for great success.
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