Eric Kingdon, European Technical Marketing Manager for Sony Europe, answers the basic questions everybody is asking about 3D and also gives us some of his insight into the future of the 3D Market.

The new Bravia LX series offer compatibility with 3D TV from either 2D or 3D sources using an Active Shutter system with signals from the TV being transmitted to the glasses. The Active glasses enable the images to be synced so you see the correct frame from the correct eye allowing your brain to build the correct full HD 3D images per eye. They are also experimenting with different lenses in the glasses for different colour temperature options on the final image. The batteries in the glasses are rechargeable for convenience.

It is expected that the software companies will produce Blu-ray discs with both 2D & 3D content allowing you to pass a conventional 2D signal from a non 3D Blu-ray player to the TV and the patented chip technology in the TV will display a 3D picture from the 2D signal.

If you want the full 3D experience you will need to purchase a new 3D Blu-ray player or use a 3D transmitted source which may be coming at the end of the year and link it to the new Sony TV. All devices for full 3D need to be HDMI 1.4 compliant. If you are current using a high quality HDMI lead you may find you will not need to replace the connecting cable, however all new TV’s and Blu-ray players from Sony will feature HDMI 1.4

Sony are very optimistic about the massive potential and impact 3D will have on the gaming market and are putting a lot of effort in providing a firmware upgrade for the PS-3 making it 3D compliant.

With the firm backing of content from Hollywood it’s only a matter of time, and bandwidth, before we start to see the streaming of 3D to our homes. Sky media are currently experimenting with 3D in the UK and discussions are afoot for the 2012 Olympics.