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I want you to close your eyes and imagine yourself in 2014.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is taking off.
Youre excited to seeMarvels Guardians of the Galaxy with your friends in a few days.
You hear its in 3D just like everything else.
There are 3D TVs, too, and your tech-obsessed friend was just bragging about buying one.
Now youre back in the present day (sorry).
Taco Bell is still serving so-so breakfast, but these days, the word for it is mid.
Your tech-obsessed friend recently replaced their 3D TV with one of thebest OLED TVson the market.
Once upon a time, 3D TVs were everywhere.
These days, theyre relics quietly treasured by collectors and enthusiasts but mostly joked about by those who remember.
But lately, its starting to feel like the air has shifted.
Lets start with the hardware.
To say that 3D TVs were fussy is a bit of an understatement.
Obviously, there were the glasses.
Generally speaking, these came in two flavors: active and passive.
This would happen in sync with images on the screen, each frame intended for a single eye.
Their polarized lenses merge two off-set images, creating an illusion of depth.
I remember using these when testing 3D TVs from LG.
Both styles had their advantages and disadvantages.
Active specs offered a full-HD (1080p) 3D experience, but were heavy, battery-operated and seriously pricey.
Passive glasses were and still are lightweight.
Cost was another issue.
Think about how much casual TV-watching you do on a regular basis compared to lights-off, sit-down movie nights.
It was a special ritual they werent broadcasting Parks & Recreation in 3D.
Theyre cheap, easier to wear and dont require charging.
But what if we did away with 3D glasses altogether?
AtCESthis year, I got to spend time with a glasses-free 3D monitor, theSamsung Odyssey 3D.
With a front-facing stereo camera, the Odysseey 3D tracks viewers eyes to maintain the effect.
Most people are squeamish about the prospect of a camera on their TV and understandably so.
3D movies never fully went away, either; theyre still a part of moviegoing culture.
3D TVs have an uphill battle in front of them.
3D TVs have an uphill battle in front of them.
Without the convenience factor that movie theaters and VR headsets offer, theres not much of a marketing opportunity.
The return of 3D TVs isn’t a guarantee, nor is it imminent.
And if they make their return, I’ll be there with or without glasses on.
