Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 17
3D Visual Experience
Péter Tamás Kovács and Tibor Balogh *
Abstract. The large variety of different 3D displaying techniques available today
can be confusing, especially since the term “3D” is highly overloaded. This chap-
ter introduces 3D display technologies and proposes a categorization that can help
to easily grasp the essence of specific 3D displays that one may face, regardless of
the often confusing and ambiguous descriptions provided by manufacturers. Dif-
ferent methods for creating the illusion of spatial vision, along with the advantages
and disadvantages will be analyzed. Specific examples of stereoscopic, autos-
tereoscopic, volumetric and light-field displays emerging or already available in
the market are referenced. Common uncompressed 3D image formats preferred by
each display technology are also discussed.
1 Introduction
The chapter will go through the main technologies used for implementing 3D dis-
plays using the four top level categories of the “3D display family tree” created by
the 3D@Home Consortium, Steering Team 4 [1]. It will take a different approach
from that of the family tree detailing the main categories based on selected driving
technologies that the authors think the most important. Other categorizations of
3D displays might exist, hopefully this one helps to understand the main trends
and easily grasp the technology underlying different 3D displays.
The chapter strictly focuses on technologies that generate spatial vision, so it
does not cover for example displays that project a floating 2D image using a fres-
nel lens, or displays that project 2D images on some surface(s).
2 Stereoscopic Displays
Stereoscopic displays [2,3] simulate 3D vision by showing different images to the
eyes. The two images are either shown on a traditional 2D display, projected onto
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