3D television was first demonstrated in 1928 but did not become popular until 2010 when major manufacturers began selling full lineups of 3D TVs. However, sales began declining in 2013 due to issues like the need to wear glasses, which caused headaches and eyestrain for many viewers. Additionally, early 3D Blu-rays were only compatible with specific brand TVs, limiting content options. While 3D TVs provided an immersive home theater experience, disadvantages like mandatory glasses and limited compatibility led to a loss of consumer interest before problems could be addressed. The technology may see renewed interest if glasses-free 3D or virtual reality integration can be achieved.

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Unit 8 – Task 4 – Developing Technologies Mini Essay – 3D Television
By Chelsie Brandrick
I. INTRODUCTION
3D Television is television that conveys depth perception to the viewer by employing
techniques such as stereoscopic display, multi-view display, 2D-plus-depth, or any
other form of 3D display. Most modern 3D television sets use an active shutter 3D
system or a polarized 3D system, and some are auto stereoscopic without the need of
glasses.
II. HISTORY
Sir Charles Wheatstone first invented the stereoscope in 1838; the invention showed
that when two pictures are viewed stereoscopically the brain combines them to produce
3D depth perception. The stereoscope was improved by Lewis Jules Duboscq and a
famous picture of Queen Victoria was displayed at The Great Exhibition in 1851.
In the late 1890s, the British film pioneer William Friese-Greene filed a patent for a 3D
movie process. On June 10 1915, former Edison Studios chief Edwin S. Porter and
William E. Waddell presented tests in red-green anaglyph to an audience at the Astor
Theatre in New York City. Shortly after in 1922, the first public 3D movie ‘The Power
of Love’ was displayed.
Stereoscopic 3D television was demonstrated for the first time on August 10 1928 by
John Logie Baird at his company’s premises in London. Baird pioneered a variety of 3D
television systems using electromechanical and cathode-ray tube techniques. The first
3D television as produced in 1935, which resulted in many 3D movies being producing
for theatrical release in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s.
Many famous directors and producers were opting to try the new technology such as
Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred produced his film ‘Dial M for Murder’ in 3D but later had to
convert it to 2D to maximise profits.
In 1946 the Soviet Union also developed 3D films, with ‘Robinzon Kruzo’ being its
first full-length 3D movie. The public were excited to view the new 3D movies, but
became quickly unimpressed by their poor quality. As a result, the popularity of 3D
movies declined.

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Another attempt to make 3D movies more mainstream occurred in the 1970’s and
1980’s with the release of Friday the 13th Part III (1982) and Jaws 3D (1983). 3D
showings became more popular throughout the 2000s and peaked with the success of
3D productions of Avatar in late 2009.
Though 3D movies were generally received well by the public, 3D televisions did not
become popular until after the CES 2010 trade show, when major manufactures began
selling a full line-up of 3D televisions. Data from DisplaySearch shows that 3D
television sales soared in 2012 to over 41 million in comparison to 24 million in 2011
and 2 million in 2010. However in 2013 3D television sales started to decline and
productions are to be discontinued in late 2017 due to low customer demand.
III. ADVANTAGES
3D televisions many be unavailable to buy now but while they were being produced
they offered consumers many benefits. 3D televisions give the viewer a replicated feel
of a movie theatre and allowed them to view any movie, television show or video game
of choice in the comfort of their own home. This atmosphere can transport viewers to a
new location of their choice and acts brilliantly as home entertainment.
3D televisions aren’t limited to 3D either, as they are also capable of converting content
to 2D viewing as well as converting regular 2D content to 3D which enables viewers to
watch their favourite shows in 3D.
IV. DISADVANTAGES
3D televisions are no longer in production as the disadvantages outweighed the
advantages, which left the viewers unsatisfied with their product. The main element that
left viewers and owners of 3D televisions unhappy, were the mandatory glasses that a
viewer was required to wear whilst watching 3D content in order for it to work. The
glasses were unattractive, heavy to wear and left many people with eyestrain issues.
Some brands of 3D glasses left users with headaches and dizziness. Plus the price of the
glasses retailed at £30 a pair, for a family of four that’s a lot of money to spend on
eyestrain and headaches.
In the beginning of 3D productions, 3D Blu-ray DVDs were only available for

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purchasers of a certain brand of 3D television, which prevented a lot of customers from
buying a lot of 3D DVDs. For example, Avatar was only available for Panasonic 3D
television owners, whilst DreamWorks DVDs were only compatible with Samsung 3D
televisions.
V. CONCLUSION
3D televisions were a good gimmick whilst they lasted but the issues of headaches, self
conscious glasses and a limited choice of DVDs to purchase that were compatible
prevented a lot of people buying into the 3D technology and as a result 3D television
are no longer in production. Consumers lost interest in this industry before the
manufactures could fix the problems the products had. 3D televisions will only make a
resurrection in the future if the manufactures of the 3D televisions can produce
televisions that work without the glasses and with more of an immersive atmosphere. I
think a possible blend of virtual reality and 3D televisions could be a hit in the gaming
and film market.
Word Count: 845.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Websites
Wikipedia. 2008. 3D Television. [Online]. [Accessed 1 May 2017]. Available from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_television