Sharp develops new 3-D flat panel monitors
Date: August 15, 2004
Sharp Systems of America introduced on August 9, 2004 new flat panel monitors capable of displaying images in 3 dimensions without the need for special glasses. Though a few lesser-known companies have produced stand-alone 3-D flat panel monitors for medical and scientific uses, this is the first computer monitor targeting consumers.
Sharp has priced the new flat panel monitors, the Sharp LL-151-3D, at $1,499. Users can easily switch between 2-D and 3-D modes with the on-screen-display interface. The illusion of 3-D is created by the insertion of a special layer, adding depth to images regardless of whether they were originally created in 3-D. This is not the first time this technology has been implemented; Sharp also used similar technology in one of its laptops introduced last year.
Ian Matthew, Sharp's 3-D business development manager says that a number of video games and software that allow users to turn DVD movies and digital photos into 3-D images are starting to hit the market. Flat panel monitors such as the Sharp LL-151-3D will be well positioned to take advantage of the new technology.
Other companies that are also developing flat panel monitors and hardware and applications for 3-D images include graphics chip providers such as Nvidia Corp. and ATI Technologies. Sharp has partnered with Sony Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. to create more 3-D applications that may be rolled out next year. "Everyone believes that this market will move forward toward mass adoption," Matthew said. "Even though it's on the bleeding edge right now, it will get there."
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