Today we had a talk from Spatial View about their interesting line of 3d screens. I think the whole idea of things popping out of our screens is cool enough but still feels more like a novelty than anything. That being said, it’s a heck of a novelty for playing games. I had a pair of 3d glasses for one of my older computers and especially for first person shooters it added extra depth and atmosphere. Why I would want to feel like Barbara Walters was doing an interview right in the heart of my very own living room? (to remain rhetorical).
I guess though right now there has been a resurgence of 3d movies, which is also a really cool aspect. Automatically I think of B grade 1950′s monster movies with red and blue lenses, though it’s come a little bit farther than that these days. Spatial view seems very keen in their work to get rid of the glasses all together and with just an extra filter on your screen, bring a similar experience… in full colour! Doesn’t even have to be your television or movie screen any more.
The whole idea of it makes me think about how my brain feels about the experience. It isn’t like I believe that what I’m seeing is anymore ‘real’. If anything it’s hyper real and doesn’t feel quite natural, especially when limited to just the screen. And then there is the whole aspect of wanting to reach out and touch what’s in front of you… but then again, sometimes it can be kinda unnerving as well (in reference to it being 3d and not just being super cheesy).
Optical illusions in general seem to have the power to amuse and impress us so I guess it’s no wonder that we are trying to improve on them and integrate into current technologies. At the same time however, it really does just feel like a stepping stone towards proper augmented and virtual reality so it’ll remain a fun novelty for now and I guess I’ll have to wait for a proper 3d movie where i’m running from godzilla along with the actors.
