Having the amazing 3D cinema effect in the comfort of your lounge seems out of the question for many. Companies like BT Vision are providing 3D streaming services, which make it easy for you to watch 3D television at home. The 3D TVs available at the moment are increasingly prominent in our homes. Viewing these films can make you feel like you’re ‘actually there’ when wearing the 3D glasses.
- Zorlack / Foter / CC BY
3D TVs are top spec LCD, LED or plasma televisions. They first hit the market in 2010 and are gaining in popularity on a daily basis. You will indeed need these 3D specs to witness 3D content but don’t be misled into thinking that they will convert all your programs into three dimensions; you’ll only see shows made for 3D viewing and these must be watched on a 3D TV. They cost a lot more than other televisions because the technology required is relatively new. These prices will no doubt decrease as time goes by as with many other electrical devices. Just think how much DVD players cost when they first came out and what they can be bought for these days.
Two types of 3D glasses are available known as passive or active glasses and each style uses different glass. Passive glasses are frequently seen at the cinema and use polarizing lenses whereas the active versions use crystallized shutters, powered by batteries. To watch 3D shows and programs you will need a 3D TV along with a 3D source like a 3D Blu-ray player or 3D TV channel. If you do not have either of these sources, your TV will function perfectly well but in 2D.
So how does the 3D TV and glasses cause us to see the picture in 3D? The television forms two separate pictures simultaneously causing a disordered image. The glasses then combine the two pictures to form a clear image for you to see in three dimensions.
Currently there aren’t many 3D channels available. In the UK Sky 3D shows a mixture of films, sports, documentaries and concerts. Virgin Media has a ‘3D Movies on Demand’ 3D platform that shows 3D films and TV shows. The USA has two 3D sports channels called n3D and ESPN 3D. You can also experience 3D viewing using a 3D Blu-ray player with your 3D TV. Many more channels are in the pipeline though and will appear very soon.
Even though they need glasses, 3D TVs are a superb choice. Enjoying a cinema-like experience in your lounge is an amazing experience. Even though they are expensive, as I said earlier the price will decrease as time passes. 3D televisions are the most talked about TVs at the moment and will continue to be for some time. With the price of cinema tickets on the increase there’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a 3D TV for fantastic visual viewing at home.
Queen Elizabeth II wore dark glasses with a glittering Swarovski “Q” on each side while she was watching a preview of her Christmas message, which has been filmed in 3D for the first time.
Seen with her 3D glasses as she chats to senior staff from Sky News, who have produced this year’s message, the 86-year-old monarch is said to be thoroughly delighted with the result.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the Queen thought the broadcast was “absolutely lovely”, adding: “We wanted to do something a bit different and special in this jubilee year, so doing it for the first time in 3D seemed a good thing, technology-wise, to do.
“The Queen absolutely agreed straight away – there was no need for convincing at all, she was absolutely ready to embrace something new in this year.”
It is not the first time the Queen has worn 3D glasses. In fact, the pictured pair were first seen when she went to a movie training centre in Toronto, Canada, in 2010.
Queen Elizabeth II wore dark glasses with a glittering Swarovski Q on each side while she was watching a preview of her Christmas message
During her message, which will be broadcast at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, the Queen will talk about the impact of London 2012, saying: “All those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes.
“In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama.”
When the message is broadcast tomorrow the Queen and Prince Philip will be at Sandringham with other royals – but they will not be joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The couple have decided to break with tradition as a result of 30-year-old Kate Middleton’s pregnancy and continuing sickness and instead spend Christmas with the Middleton family.
However, they will make an appearance at Sandringham on Boxing Day for the regular pheasant shoot on the 20,000-acre Norfolk estate and are expected to remain there for a couple of days.
The move has led to speculation that the couple may choose to spend alternate Christmases with their respective families, as many modern couples do.
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British plus-size women’s fashion and lifestyle magazine SLiNK cover features a 3D photograph of gorgeous Australian model Bree Warren, a UK size 14, which is the minimum requirement for all models featured in the publication.
The cover of SLiNK magazine’ seventh issue shows Bree Warren – who works for Models 1+ and has just finished her journalism degree – wearing a furry Marimodo gilet, a body from ASOS Curve, and cuff and rings by Imogen.
Inside the magazine is further 3D editorial, with photographs of Bree Warren modelling a selection of clothes and accessories from both high street brands and independent high-end designers.
Readers can fully appreciate the photos – all of which are taken by Roberto Aguilar – by wearing the free 3D glasses provided with the edition.
The cover of SLiNK magazine’ seventh issue shows Bree Warren wearing a furry Marimodo gilet, a body from ASOS Curve, and cuff and rings by Imogen
The theme of the edition is Freedom, exploring everything from the change in a woman’s freedom after she has children, to how the changes in the Middle East have affected women in the region.
The editor of SLiNK, Rivkie Baum (a size 16-18 26-year-old), said the 3D technique was employed “to create a sensational selection of images with a military theme that truly come to life”.
She added: “The issue is The Freedom Issue and as our lead story we wanted something fierce and fresh with a military spin.
“We worked with a lot of mainstream PR agencies for this shoot, especially with young designers whose samples would work for both a girl of size 14 and a straight size model.
“We find emerging designers are keen to work with models of various sizes. We wanted this shoot to really be about pushing boundaries of what <<plus size>> modelling and fashion should be about.”
As well as the 3D shoot the edition also features a beauty section, shopping pages and extra editorial shoots, including a beautiful lingerie shoot.
SLiNK, which won the award for Best Plus Size Magazine 2011 at the 100% People Awards, was founded “to show that plus-size models can do anything a straight size model can”.
The fashion inside can always be found up to a size 22, often a 32.
The concept for the publication was Rivkie Baum’s, a graduate from the London College of Fashion in Design and Pattern Cutting and a creative at Models 1.
Her aim was to promote healthy lifestyle, body confidence and body acceptance to the 4.9 million women in the UK who wear a size 18+.
Rivkie Baum said: “SLiNK is a shining light in a world that frowns on plus size women.
“Using models who are a size 14+, SLiNK’s ethos is to show their readers that being fuller-figured is no barrier to obtaining both an on-trend wardrobe and a fabulous lifestyle.”
SLiNK magazine has run online for one year and is now available to purchase via the company’s website.
Simulview PlayStation television from Sony is the first flatscreen that can show each viewer something entirely different.
Both viewers of Simulview have to wear 3D glasses, as the screen uses the high-speed images of the TV screen to send a different view 2D to each pair of battery powered glasses.
The “active shutter” glasses flick open and closed in time to the television’s screen updates – so each person watching sees “their” view, and is cut off from the other person’s. So far, it only works for two.
Sony’s PS3- branded set is built for gaming – the idea being that the two views will allow two gamers to duel one another without the “cheat” of being able to see one another’s screen.
Simulview also works as a 3D TV, using the fast-flicking 240Hz screen for 3D Blu-Rays, cable or satellite TV and PlayStation games
Simulview also works as a 3D TV, using the fast-flicking 240Hz screen for 3D Blu-Rays, cable or satellite TV and PlayStation games.
The TV has no built-in tuner – so you need to add a cable, satellite or Freeview box to watch shows.
At the moment a very limited number of games work with the screen – but it includes hits such as Motorstorm: Apocalypse and Gran Turismo 5.
More titles are coming soon.
Simulview is only available in the US, but it will launch in Spring in the UK.
