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Apple intends to enter the 3d technology market with its own brand of 3d glasses aptly nicknamed ‘iSpecs’. The iSpecs allegedly will contain a slot for an Apple iPhone or iPod allowing users to view a projected image on the move. A special lens will perform the necessary trickery to create the 3d effect by splitting the image into two separate frames.

I can foresee two problems with this initial concept of the Apple iSpecs. Firstly, the weight of an Apple iPhone or iPod when slotted into the iSpecs may prove to be uncomfortable. People will expect the 3d glasses to be light-weight and comfortable to wear for long periods, especially if consumers are likely to watch blockbusters such as Avatar using this technology.

Apple iSpecs Concept - 3D Movies on the Move

Secondly, it will be interesting to see how Apple tackles the projection distance problem. The iPhone/iPod will rest merely centimetres from the human eye making it very difficult to view images clearly. The ‘special’ lens will obviously play a part of rendering the image yet I fail to see consumers wearing the iSpecs on the move. The glasses will contain a small camera allowing users to stream live footage from outside the glasses. An infrared system would detect anyone approaching and presumably switch to live footage or alert the wearer that someone may be trying to communicate with them. It all seems a bit science-fiction to me, I struggle to see how someone would want to wear these glasses on the busy streets of London, switching between live footage and watching a film.

Apple filed a patent application in August 2008. Above is a drawing from Apples patent application giving us some idea of how the iSpecs concept could work. It will be interesting to see whether Apple enters the 3d market with the iSpecs, but the innovation showed previously by Apple and with the recent release of the popular iPad, some may see the idea not so farfetched.

Source: Daily Mail – (15/4/10)

Samsung 3D TVs do not come packaged with the required 3D Glasses. Consumers will be expected to spend around $150 (£100) per pair before viewing 3D programmes. It is fair to assume most consumers will need to purchase more than one pair of 3D glasses, adding extra expense to the 3D TV price tag.

The glasses are unlike those used in cinemas to view films such as ‘Avatar’ or ‘Up’ and contain liquid crystal lenses. They are battery powered and the active shutter glasses communicate directly with the television alternating between light and dark hundreds of times per second. The 3D glasses are wireless, as expected, but are currently only available in one size posing an inconvenient short-term problem for children wishing to view 3D films and programmes using Samsungs new 3D active shutter glasses.

Competitors will undoubtedly strive to include at least a pair of 3D glasses with television sets in an attempt compete with Samsung’s rapid release into the 3D TV market.