Since purchasing the new EVO 3D cell phone last week I’ve been curious how 3D technology works. I had been watching advertisements for three months and could no longer see the point in taking flat two dimensional images. Over the last week I’ve spent a lot of time researching 3D technology.
Most people I’ve shown my new phone have noticed there’s two camera lenses and only one screen. Until now I’ve been stumped as to why there’s two lenses. How could the tech guy be stumped with such questions?
The answer to the two lens question actually originates with our own eyesight. People (and animals) with normal eyesight see in three dimensions because they have two eyes. Each eye is allowed to focus and swivel independently in each eye socket as it looks at an object: creating depth.
Three dimensional cameras work similarly to normal eyesight. The key difference is the two lenses can’t swivel and focus independently of each other. Rather, 3D lenses have what’s called a large depth of field; that is, they are allowed to focus on all objects both near and far. When the images from the two lenses are combined, the resulting picture can be viewed in 3D. Using two lenses which see the same objects from different angles causes depth.
Those who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s may remember wearing red and blue glasses while watching 3D movies. The red and blue lenses served the purpose of separating the two overlapping images so the brain can render the movie in 3D, also called anaglyph technology. Three dimensional images have been around for more than a century and were first viewed with a cumbersome device called a stereoscope.
Last weekend I went to my first 3D movie with my kids. I was expecting to be handed a pair of red and blue paperboard glasses. Instead I was provided with a high quality pair of specs that looked like sunglasses. With two pair at my disposal I quickly figured out the lenses are polarized. Polarization eliminates certain light waves from passing through the lenses. In other words, each image (left and right) is processed with matching polarity so each eye can process the distinct image.
Televisions function similarly to movies in that they both require special glasses to view three dimensional images correctly. The primary difference between three dimensional and traditional televisions is their ability to process images at high speed. Televisions must be able to essentially process two simultaneous broadcasts at the exact same time.
My phone, as well as most consumer cameras, use something called lenticular technology to produce the three dimensional images without the need of special glasses. Some readers may remember plastic pictures with ridges running vertically. Similar to those old 3D images, my phone has to be positioned correctly for the viewer to correctly discern the picture.
One of my concerns with three dimensional technology is the ability to standardize; or at least convert easily from one type to another. I can’t find a whole lot of support for converting 3D images and movies from my phone to a television, for example. The file output type is not a traditional JPG or MPG. I found two different companies producing software that can manipulate 3D files; but, hopefully more will come.
No matter what, 3D technology is really neat and I’m pleased with my purchase. I’m certain that as the technology matures and 3D becomes a household word manufacturers will provide an easy way to work with images and movies. Until then, I’m going to continue showing off my world in three dimensions.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him at (978) 413-2840 or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)