3D needs to escape from glasses

James Cameron with 'Avatar' reminded us that there is an audiovisual technique, very widespread in cinemas in the 1950s, with which we can increase the realism of films. But why didn't 3D triumph in the 50s? Is 3D going to be useful for everything?... Gorka Muñecas (Soda.tv) reflects on these and other questions in this Tribune.

James Cameron with Avatar He reminded us that there is an audiovisual technique, very widespread in cinemas in the 1950s, with which we can increase the realism of films. But why didn't 3D succeed in the 1950s and end up disappearing if hundreds of films were produced? Why did our parents stop finding 3D movies attractive?

I suppose that the stereoscopy technology with anaglyph images ended up making the audience dizzy since the image quality behind the cardboard and colored plastic glasses left a lot to be desired. In recent years, technology has advanced a lot. We have polarized glasses and especially active glasses that allow us a more real three-dimensional effect. Although we still need those glasses.

Maybe we will continue going to the cinema to see 3D movies but I doubt very much that many entire families will sit in front of the living room television, put on glasses and watch 3D movies on a regular basis. This cumbersome process goes against the movie-couch-relax philosophy. So we are not going to fool ourselves. No matter how much the system has improved, 3D will not spread until we have glasses-free technology at democratic prices.

More accessible technology

A lot of work is being done to achieve more accessible technology both in glasses-free screens and in production systems. The rig system with two cameras is slow and expensive and in its place more single-body systems will emerge, especially aimed at television production. At the moment, the video gamers are the ones pulling the wagon. Games are natively created in 3D and much more realism can now be achieved using stereoscopy.

But we come to the big question: is 3D going to be useful for everything? It seems that everyone agrees that watching a football match in stereoscopy is much more exciting. The big shows have been the first to be filmed exclusively for television and it works. But will we see the news, afternoon magazines and cooking shows in 3D?

Although in a few years we will be able to offer our viewers everything in 3D, we must look at whether 3D contributes to the format in question. At Soda.tv we believe that stereoscopy has a long way to go and will have applications that we have not even imagined yet. We are working to understand this new language that requires a new way of making audiovisuals.

Gorka Dolls

Strategy and Innovation Soda.tv