Three television manufacturers intend to create a new technology standard for 3D active glasses, targeted for use in the home. Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony will put the standard together in conjunction with active 3D glasses manufacturing company XPAND 3D, and are hoping that the new standard will foster wider adoption of the technology. The group will develop a set of system protocols that will allow 3D glasses and 3D televisions to be interchangeable among those brands, while providing backwards compatibility with 3D TVs they release in 2011.
Currently, the different brands of 3D equipment are not at all compatible. Ethan Rasiel, a director of public relations with Samsung, told Ars that a few big differences will have to be overcome—for instance, Rasiel said Samsung currently uses Bluetooth to connect its glasses and TVs, while Sony and Panasonic use infrared waves.
The standard will include multiple types of infrared protocols, including some that were formerly proprietary to Samsung and Sony. Through the standard, the four companies are hoping to "widely introduce" active 3D glasses to the market.
The move represents a vote of confidence for active 3D glasses, which give a slightly better viewing experience but are denigrated for their bulk and cost. Competing technologies include passive 3D glasses and a handful of glasses-less 3D TVs demoed over the last year. "We are committed to active 3D," Rasiel told Ars.
The license for the standard is targeted for release in September, with the universal glasses becoming available in 2012.
