There has been a lot of talk of 3D televisions lately and about how 3D is going to be the absolute in thing in 2010.
Most of the big names have some sort of 3D strategy for making sure they aren’t going to be the ones left behind including Sony, LG, Panasonic and Samsung.
Korean based Samsung Electronics are racing ahead with their plans and have just announced they have started mass production of 3D LED and 3D LCD screens for 40 inch, 46 inch and 55 inch full High Definition 3D TVs.
“Recently, 3D displays have captured the industry spotlight. Samsung Electronics aims to lead the global 3D TV panel market in pioneering mass production for 3D LED and LCD TVs” said Wonkie Chang, president of the LCD Business at Samsung Electronics in a company statement.
So are Samsung making a wise move here?
Some industry experts are claiming that 3D is not going to happen overnight and that most people’s budgets won’t extend to a new 3D TV, not yet anyway, so Samsung are taking a massive risk.
“Everybody just bought a new TV. Between 2007 and 2009, over 40 million HD TVs were sold in the U.S., most of them close to or below $1,000” said James McQuivey, a principal analyst at Forrester Research in a recent report.
McQuivey isn’t saying that 3D won’t take off, but he reckons it could be another ten years before 3D TVs become the norm in the home.
However another way of looking at it is that it all has to start somewhere and by mass producing the screens, Samsung, who are currently the world’s largest producer of flat screen displays, could start the ball rolling towards cheaper prices and greater availability.
There are other hurdles to overcome of course, the lack of 3D content for a start. However, one of the greatest obstacles I see towards 3D TV viewing en-masse is the fact that we need to wear those awkward 3D viewing glasses.
I mean how many people are going to switch on their TV and automatically reach for the remote control and their specs? Ok so we probably will.
Families will need to buy multiple pairs so everyone can join in to watch the big games and films, and then what happens if you’ve got guests over too? Of course, they’ll bring their own.
If 3D is the way it is all going and it sure looks like it, I guess we’ll find ways of coping.
