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3D display

A 3D display is any display device capable of conveying three-dimensional images to the viewer.

There are few basic types of 3D displays. Stereoscopic technology separately sends two views of a 3D scene on its screen(s) to the viewers two eyes. Autostereoscopic 3D displays advance on stereoscopic technology without the need for any special glasses or other head gear by using high resolution flat panels to generate a given number of views of a 3D scene through some sort of pixel redirection technology. This solution gives "ok" quality 3D views from predefined sweet points in front of the display, but leaves a tangled image while in between the sweet points. Continuous 3D light field display developed by Holografika generates a glasses free 3D image with no restrictions on the number of viewers, their position in front of the screen and their movement. Holographic 3D displaying researchers are able to create a light field which is identical to that which emanated from the original scene (for the technology, see Computer Generated Holography). This last technology is capable of reproducing horizontal and vertical parallax at the same time, while stereoscopic and autostereoscopic technologies can create horizontal parallax 3D images only. This may seem a limitation of 3D displays, but the longitudinal location of human eye on the head is in perfect pair with the horizontally multiplied views of these displays.

In addition there are volumetric displays, where some physical mechanism is used to display points of light within a volume. Such displays use voxels instead of pixels. Volumetric displays include multiplanar displays, which have multiple display planes stacked up; and rotating panel displays, where a rotating panel sweeps out a volume.

Other technologies have been developed to project light dots in the air above a device. An infrared laser is focused on the destination in space, generating a small bubble of plasma which emits visible light. Up to now (August 2008) the experiments only allow a rate of 100 dots per second. One of the issues which arise with this 3D display system is the use of technologies that could be harmful to human eyes.

Comparison of 3D displaying technologies

Stereoscopic

Autostereoscopic

Volumetric

Holographic

Passive

Tracking

Multiview

Addressed media projection (air or solid)

Moving lightpoints

Layered

Features

User Benefits

HoloVizio -light field

Lenticular

Parallax barrier (controlled)

Different opt. Rasters and filters

Integral Imaging

Time-multiplex

Controlled pixel technology

Passive (moving screen)

Active (rotated led matirx)

Double

Multilayer

Continuous motion parallax

The 3D image doesn't "jump" between the views, horizontal perspective is perfect

Limited

TRUE, horizontal only

True, also vertical

True, vertical also possible

There's no contradiction between eye-convergence and focusing

No discomfort, seasickness or disorientation

Voxels can be individually addressed

The point of a given view does not move if the viewer is moving and is exactly there where it seems to be

Limited

Wide viewing angle, optional viewing distance

Collaborative use

Limited

No eye or head tracking used

Not necessary to stand in one point, free motion possible

Limited

No latency

No invalid zones in the field of view

The 3D image can be seen in the entire field of view

Not relevant

Limited

The points can be generated anywhere in the field of view

Optional shaped objects or 3D view can be visualized

In a fixed position only

Limited

Objects could appear behind and in front of the display screen

Limited with depth

Only with supplementary optics

Ability to show hidden edges

Wide scale of displayed images, textures vs. wire frame images only

Direction selective light emittance of each pixel

Window-like view, all light beams are present as in natural view

Full compatibility with optional software environment

Ability to display any 3D information and to use different 3D sw without restrictions

Compatible with current displaying conventions

Easy replacement of desktop 2D monitors

Limited

High refreshment rate possible

Motion picture, interactivity

Limited

Brightness

Visibility under various ambient lighting conditions

Good

Fair

Limited

Good

Limited

Good

Limited

Fair

Good

Resolution (X,Y)

Clear, sharp pictures

Good

Fair

Good

Limited

Good

Limited by speckle

Depth resolution (Z)

Achievable depth of the 3D image

Good

Limited

Not relevant

Poor

Good

Color resolution

True colours

Good

View number dependant

Fair

Poor

Good

Limited

Good

Practical display sizes

System can be built from small to large sizes

Any

Limited

Any

Limited

No moving parts

Reliability, proper lifetime, mobile applications, no noise

True/Not true

True/Not true (Scanning)

Vision safe technology?

3D image generation may involve methods which could be dangerous to human eye, casue strains or disconforts.

None

Overlapping reality

View number dependant visual strains

Laser and plazma radiation

Spinning hazard

Laser

Existing Displays

A wide range of organisations have developed 3D displays, ranging from experimental displays in university departments to commercially available displays. Companies involved include: