Since March 2010, when Samsung and Panasonic introduced several 3D TV models to North America (Sony will follow this summer), a new era has begun. Very soon, most new fl at-screen TVs will be 3D-capable (although they can also show all non-3D content). 3D is available is various HD technologies, namely Plasma, LCD and LED.

3D uses two cameras to capture visual data the way our two eyes do: with slightly different information for each eye. To view that data, you need 3D glasses.
3D glasses used in theatres are circular polarized, and filter out different light from the two projectors showing us the movie. It’s prohibitively expensive to buy two expensive projectors for our homes, so consumer 3D glasses are active LCD shutter. These blackout one lens very swiftly, in sync with a signal that is sent from the TV. Each eye sees a slightly different 1920 x 1080 progressive image. So, a 3D TV requires both active shutter glasses and an electronic emitter.

The next generation of TV requires a source to deliver 3D content. The source can be a 3D disc or game through a 3D ready Blu-ray disc player or PS3 (or one that has been upgraded), or a TV signal broadcast in 3D.

A deluge of 3D content is on the way, with films such as Avatar and Up, new video games and some major sports broadcasts already available.
In June 2010, ESPN will launch a new channel that broadcasts live sporting events in 3D; the first one will be soccer’s FIFA World Cup. While Hollywood has a limited number of 3D movies available so far, more are released each month (Alice in Wonderland, Clash of the Titans) or in production (the next two Harry Potter fi lms). Plus, older movies such as Shrek are being converted to 3D.