Howard Stringer, the head of Sony Corp., said during his keynote at a consumer electronics trade-show that stereoscopic 3D technologies are crucial for the next-generation entertainment. The company plans to enable stereo 3D on all of its key products and will even encourage development of stereoscopic 3D video games for PlayStation 3.

“Today, 3D is clearly on its way to the mass market. As with high-definition a few years back, there are a variety of issues yet to be addressed. But the 3D train is on the track, and we at Sony are ready to drive it home,” said Howard Stringer, the chairman and chief executive officer of Sony, at IFA trade-show.

As parts of promotion stereoscopic 3D technologies, Sony plans not only to release 3D-enabled Bravia high-definition TV-sets, but also to equip its Vaio personal computers with special screens as well as encourage 3D content development for Blu-ray players or PlayStation 3 video game consoles.

According to a report by Financial Times, Sony has chosen to use shutter glasses technology for its stereo 3D products. So did Panasonic Corp. earlier this year. Considering that the two companies are the main driving forces within Blu-ray disc association, it is highly likely that the BDA will ratify shutter glasses technology as a default standard for three-dimensional full-HD (3D FHD) video.

Shutter-glasses based stereo 3D relies on at least 120Hz TV screen and a pair of special glasses that rapidly open and close special shutters in synch with the screen’s refresh rate creating three-dimensional effect. Competing technologies use special glasses with polarization along with special screens. Therefore, it is generally easier to use active shutter 3D glasses for consumer electronics makers.

The “active shutter” method has a number of disadvantages: it causes headache for some consumers, it requires all viewers to wear 3D glasses, it requires a special transmitter than synchronizes operation of 3D glasses and display, it requires a screen with 120Hz refresh rate, the most costly disadvantage from end-users’ points of view.

“To project stereoscopic 3D images, a TV or monitor needs to have a refresh rate of at least 120Hz. While new televisions typically can do that, few older ones can. So most consumers will need to buy a new TV or computer monitor to watch 3D programming, and many may be reluctant to go through the upgrade cycle in the near future after recently replacing their old analog TVs with digital ones. That will be a barrier,” said Jon Peddie, the president of Jon Peddie Research market research firm.

Tags: Sony, Stereo 3D, Bravia, Playstation, Blu-ray