3D transforms phones and laptops
By Zhu Shenshen |
May 7, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER the box-office successes of "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," 3D glasses may become the latest must-have gear for techno-buffs.
Beyond cinema, three-dimensional technology is expected to wend its way into a broad array of consumer electronic products in China, from televisions to computers to mobile phones.
Three-dimensional applications for smaller screens, which often need a higher level of technology and design, are difficult to adapt for commercial use now, but they herald a trend that industry officials aren't game to ignore.
"The 3D display technology is going to expand into consumer electronics sectors," said Jennifer Colegrove, an analyst at DisplaySearch.
The 3D display, which refers to multi-view auto-stereoscope, provides high resolution and vivid imaging.
By 2018, worldwide 3D TV sales are expected to top 10 million units from just 40,000 units in 2009. The 3D laptop sales are forecast to jump from 66,000 to 17.7 million units, while 3D handset sales will surge to 77 million from hardly any at the moment, according to DisplaySearch, a US-based IT consulting firm.
Boosted by the big-budget and successful movie titles, 3D technology has been a revenue boon for Chinese cinemas.
"Chinese cinema operators saw a return on investment in 3D technology come only several months after the release of 'Avatar,'" said Yan Fei, managing director China of Barco, a Belgium-based company that provides projectors for cinemas and big events.
Contrast that with a seven-year estimate globally for that kind of investment.
"It's a China-only miracle, thanks to the willingness of people here to embrace new technology," Yan added.
Of course, 3D is the hottest topic in the TV industry, cited as the most exciting technological development in that industry since the advent of liquid crystal display screens, industry officials said.
Top vendors Samsung and Sony both launched 3D TV models in China market last month, the first of what is expected to stampede into the new realm.
Chinese makers, including AU Optronics, Changhong, TCL and Haier, also have announced plans to launch 3D models within months.
The jostling at the starting gate reflects the huge potential the industry sees for 3D in the world's biggest television market, analysts said.
"It's still too early to say when 3D TV will enjoy widespread popularity in China because the technology still lacks sufficient content now," said Bai Weimin, vice president and secretary-general of the China Video Industry Association. "But the situation has started to change."
The 3D technology on computers is also in a fledgling stage compared with cinema, but several innovative applications are starting to appear with commercial potential.
A display of technology related to video-based 3D models was exhibited at the Intel Developer Forum last month in Beijing.
The technology would allow normal users to create 3D models quickly using pictures or video from family cameras.
"It does matter because it enables amateurs to create and customize realistic 3D content for the first time," an Intel official at the demo booth said.
Generally speaking, it would take someone between two weeks and several months to create a 3D video using professional software and cameras.
The 3D technology also has potential on Internet sites such as online shopping, allowing sellers to display products in three dimensions, the Intel researcher added.
But that development still awaits the release of the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which is expected to better support 3D, experts said.
A Shenzhen-based firm is also developing a 3D solution for PC vendors, receiving several orders.
"We have provided screen adaptation for 3D for some top PC brands, and such products will be available in several months," said Luo Wei, marketing manager of the Shenzhen Super Perfect Optics Ltd (SuperD).
The screen adaptation and glass may bump up the price of a laptop by about 1,000 yuan (US$147), according to Luo, who declined to reveal which brands are interested in his 3D solution.
Asus is among the first batch of brands to launch 3D laptops. But its 3D laptop model, with special glass, costs 15,000 yuan, almost triple the price of a normal laptop.
Lenovo, China's No. 1 PC maker, said it plans to unveil two 3D laptops by the end of this year, with the starting price at about 6,000 yuan.
Besides laptops, Shenzhen SuperD has also provided 3D development for mobile phones, Luo added.
A phone called Ouidoo, which supports a 3D social-networking virtual world application, debuted in China last month, using China Mobile's 3G standard.
Telephone handsets, with a screen up to 4 inches, will become the biggest sector to adopt 3D by 2018, according to DisplaySearch.
Beyond cinema, three-dimensional technology is expected to wend its way into a broad array of consumer electronic products in China, from televisions to computers to mobile phones.
Three-dimensional applications for smaller screens, which often need a higher level of technology and design, are difficult to adapt for commercial use now, but they herald a trend that industry officials aren't game to ignore.
"The 3D display technology is going to expand into consumer electronics sectors," said Jennifer Colegrove, an analyst at DisplaySearch.
The 3D display, which refers to multi-view auto-stereoscope, provides high resolution and vivid imaging.
By 2018, worldwide 3D TV sales are expected to top 10 million units from just 40,000 units in 2009. The 3D laptop sales are forecast to jump from 66,000 to 17.7 million units, while 3D handset sales will surge to 77 million from hardly any at the moment, according to DisplaySearch, a US-based IT consulting firm.
Boosted by the big-budget and successful movie titles, 3D technology has been a revenue boon for Chinese cinemas.
"Chinese cinema operators saw a return on investment in 3D technology come only several months after the release of 'Avatar,'" said Yan Fei, managing director China of Barco, a Belgium-based company that provides projectors for cinemas and big events.
Contrast that with a seven-year estimate globally for that kind of investment.
"It's a China-only miracle, thanks to the willingness of people here to embrace new technology," Yan added.
Of course, 3D is the hottest topic in the TV industry, cited as the most exciting technological development in that industry since the advent of liquid crystal display screens, industry officials said.
Top vendors Samsung and Sony both launched 3D TV models in China market last month, the first of what is expected to stampede into the new realm.
Chinese makers, including AU Optronics, Changhong, TCL and Haier, also have announced plans to launch 3D models within months.
The jostling at the starting gate reflects the huge potential the industry sees for 3D in the world's biggest television market, analysts said.
"It's still too early to say when 3D TV will enjoy widespread popularity in China because the technology still lacks sufficient content now," said Bai Weimin, vice president and secretary-general of the China Video Industry Association. "But the situation has started to change."
The 3D technology on computers is also in a fledgling stage compared with cinema, but several innovative applications are starting to appear with commercial potential.
A display of technology related to video-based 3D models was exhibited at the Intel Developer Forum last month in Beijing.
The technology would allow normal users to create 3D models quickly using pictures or video from family cameras.
"It does matter because it enables amateurs to create and customize realistic 3D content for the first time," an Intel official at the demo booth said.
Generally speaking, it would take someone between two weeks and several months to create a 3D video using professional software and cameras.
The 3D technology also has potential on Internet sites such as online shopping, allowing sellers to display products in three dimensions, the Intel researcher added.
But that development still awaits the release of the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which is expected to better support 3D, experts said.
A Shenzhen-based firm is also developing a 3D solution for PC vendors, receiving several orders.
"We have provided screen adaptation for 3D for some top PC brands, and such products will be available in several months," said Luo Wei, marketing manager of the Shenzhen Super Perfect Optics Ltd (SuperD).
The screen adaptation and glass may bump up the price of a laptop by about 1,000 yuan (US$147), according to Luo, who declined to reveal which brands are interested in his 3D solution.
Asus is among the first batch of brands to launch 3D laptops. But its 3D laptop model, with special glass, costs 15,000 yuan, almost triple the price of a normal laptop.
Lenovo, China's No. 1 PC maker, said it plans to unveil two 3D laptops by the end of this year, with the starting price at about 6,000 yuan.
Besides laptops, Shenzhen SuperD has also provided 3D development for mobile phones, Luo added.
A phone called Ouidoo, which supports a 3D social-networking virtual world application, debuted in China last month, using China Mobile's 3G standard.
Telephone handsets, with a screen up to 4 inches, will become the biggest sector to adopt 3D by 2018, according to DisplaySearch.
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