Will 3D change the way we watch movies at home? Some big brands are already convinced

AV fans are ready for 3D TV! That’s the conclusion of a study into viewer reaction to 3D movies by Quixel Research.

A report into all thing three dimensional reveals that nearly half of all those surveyed who have seen a 3D movie say they would be interested in having the same experience at home. Apparently, 3D glasses are no longer considered a hindrance to viewing.

Hollywood has already begun a big push to 3D content creation; 3D has proved a big hit with IMAX cinema audiences in particular.

Anticipating the demand, a number of consumer electronic companies are now creating next-generation 3D solutions for the home. Samsung introduced a 3D plasma TV into the UK earlier this year, albeit in very limited quantities and Panasonic has demonstrated a prototype 3D Blu-ray. This summer, Mitsubishi introduced the LaserVue TV (pictured) into the US market, claiming it was ideal for both 2D HD and 3D applications.

The projector market also wants a slice of the action. JVC is producing a 3D D-ILA projector system with 3D picture-processing pioneer Sensio, while rival Texas Instruments believes it can get into the act with a 3D implementation of its popular DLP technology.

Quixel researcher Tamaryn Pratt says: '3D has been around for a long time but has not really penetrated the home or personal display markets. Our study shows that over half of the consumers surveyed are interested in a 3D display at home and a significant group of the sample expects to see a home offering in the next one to two years. With consumer adoption of HDTV well over 50 percent, this is great news for manufacturers looking for the next big thing.’

Alex Lane, Editor of What Satellite and Digital TV told HCC: ‘There’s a lot of potential in new 3D technologies. It’s a very exciting area for digital TV development. 3D broadcasting has already begun in Japan and it’s only a matter of time before it’s tried elsewhere.'

Of course, those who want to experience 3D at home today don't have to wait for the latest technology to arrive. The family-friendly hit Journey to the Centre of the Earth has just been released in a partial 3D format on DVD and Blu-ray. Conventional anaglyph glasses are supplied in the packaging.