The Consumer Electronics Show held each year in Las Vegas shows off all of the coming years new technology and for that week, I was glued to the computer to see the hot new products coming out. As I kept my eye out on all the gadgets being announced, I noticed a trend — E-book readers, Pico Projectors and 3D TVs. The year before that, it was digital and high definition TVs. Why 3D? TV manufactures see a grim future due to the economy so they need to be different to keep consumers buying their TVs and so manufacturers are hoping that 3D is the new black.

This years Consumer Electronics Show brought many good things and a few of the top TV manufactures showed off their latest versions of 3D TVs. While there are some manufacturers that have already begun selling their 3D TVs such as Phillips, a few of the top manufacturers plan to release 3D-ready TVs with new and advanced 3D technology. The question that is inevitably asked is whether consumers will upgrade TVs just because it has 3D?

The prices are comparable to other flatscreen TVs. Samsung and Mitsubishi sell their TVs between $1,000 and $2,800 depending on the features, but that is around the same costs as a HDTV but includes 3D. So 3D TVs are in the same price range and manufacturers are hoping 3D will be compelling enough for consumers to ditch their old TVs for a 3D-ready TV. 3D is not a new thing and have been around since the 50′s however, new technologies allow the 3D technology to look much better than it did in the 50′s and may not be so much as a gimmick as most users see the 3D technology.

I have seen quite a few 3D televisions and been to a few 3D movies and given the advanced technology in 3D TVs, I see a few problems consumers may run into when they are ready to purchase a 3D-ready TV. Firstly, to fully enjoy a 3D TV with a great experience, the consumer will have to sport a pair of 3D shades to keep from getting a massive headache like I often did, even when wearing the glasses. Why must you wear these glasses? The 3D imaging sends a different image to each eye. The glasses help to merge the image and trick your brain into thinking something is flying out at you. Don’t get me wrong, if you have ever seen anything in 3D, the image looks spectacular, however, without the glasses, you will see a blur. Will a consumer ever be able to experience 3D without glasses? I doubt the technology will be with us for years to come, but I am sure manufacturers have been thinking about it and testing it.

“The need for special 3D glasses and the lack of live sports and entertainment events in 3D may keep people from adopting the technology outside the cinema, analysts say.”

Another problem that you might have become aware of that troubles me is the fact that there is not a standard. As we saw back when HD DVDs and Blueray fought to become the standard. So there isn’t a way to get 3D to a home 3D TV, so what is being done about it? Manufacturers are working on ways to do this and I think we may see another format war in our futures. As I mentioned earlier, I have been to 3D movies and if you have as well, you know the cost for a ticket is astronomical. This is because 3D films require multiple  high definition, special cameras to do that 3D work. Not to mention, other costs associated with production of the 3D video. This means broadcasts of a 3D standard would significantly eat up bandwidth which would costs millions for TV broadcasters, and they aren’t going to allow that unless there is a demand for a 3D standard.

Reuters quotes “While Walt Disney Co’s ESPN and Discovery Communications Inc both announced plans for 3D programing, analysts say most 3D video will come from disc since TV networks have acquired little of the infrastructure needed to broadcast in 3D.”

I think 3D TVs have quite a ways to go, but given the demand in Hollywood and the technology available to provide to consumers will set the course. Once a standard has been made, I think TV broadcasts and manufactures will feel secure enough to support the high costs and bandwidth that go along with 3D. In addition, 3D glasses are not only annoying, but rather expensive. Mark Wilson from Gizmodo is pretty much sold on 3D TVs, but what about yourself? Will a 3D TV find its way into your home any time soon?