Toshiba Demos the 55" ZL2, Glasses-Free (autostereoscopic/automultiscopic) monitor.

Toshiba demoed the new ZL2 at the IFA trade fair in Berlin. The monitor is 3840x2160 and achieves the glasses-free (autostereoscopic) effect with "a range of lenticular lenselets" (http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2011/09/04/toshiba_unveils_glasses-free_3d_tv)

LG Announces Glasses-Free 3D with Eye-Tracking Monitor

LG announces a glasses-free 20" monitor based upon a Parallax Barrier and a single-user eye tracking mechanism.

Read the article here.

Automultiscopic 3D, Auto-Multiscopic 3D and Auto-(N-View)-scopic 3D

For a while now, the term used to refer to "no-glasses" 3D has been the word autostereoscopic or auto-stereoscopic. Since stereo refers to only 2-views, the words automultiscopic and auto-n-view-scopic seem more appropriate now since we are usually dealing with 5 to 9 views, and the term is catching on in the industry.


Here's some webpages which use the new term "automultiscopic":


http://people.csail.mit.edu/wojciech/DispAntiAlias/index.html


http://graphics.ucsd.edu/~matthias/SupplementalMaterial/AntialiasingFor3DDisplays/

Converting Stereo 3D to MultiView (N-view) 3D

In the world of autostereoscopic video production, you will often be presented with a client that has 3D footage already shot (in the can) and they want it converted to MultiView (N-View) 3D, for example, 8-view 3D, so that they can display it on an autostereoscopic monitor.


This is not a simple or cheap task, but there are options available to make it happen.


A popular camera often used for stereo-3D rigs is the RED ONE Camera.


3D Film Factory sells rigs for the Red ONE; you can see the 3D-BS (Beamsplitter) here.
They also have a side-by-side rig, the 3D-SS, viewable here.


The end result is that you get a RED Cinema Camera File (*.r3d) which contains a stereo pair of videos, e.g., you get 2 pictures for each frame of video. Each picture is at a slight horizontal offset, so that you get disparity which lets you extrapolate a 3D image.


Now what?


Now you let the professionals do their magic with your 2-pics-per-frame-stereo-3D, and you get back an 8-pics-per-frame video, ready for your autostereoscopic display.


I know of two ways to get the conversion done. The first is a company located in Florida named 3D Eye Solutions. I haven't viewed any of their work personally, but I have a friend who has and he says they do good work.


The second option, if you're familiar with 3D International's z.l.i.c.e.3d software, is to buy their new plug-in, Stereo Tools, and let it do the magic for you. I haven't seen their work either, but I am a user of z.l.i.c.e.3d and I can affirm to it's wonderfullness.


Hope this helps.

Nokia Patents Autostereoscopic Eye-Tracking Method

Check it out here:

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2011044936&IA=EP2009063420&DISPLAY=STATUS

Better Autostereoscopic 3D

Researchers at the MIT Media Lab have proposed a better autostereoscopic apporoach, called HR3D.

Read the original article here:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/glasses-free-3d-0504.html

Exceptional 3D (A new Autostereoscopic 3D Hardware, Software, Training and Content Production Company Launches March 2011

Exceptional 3D - A new autostereoscopic 3D player in town, based out of New York, and formed by former employees of Magnetic3D has launched in April 2011.


The Exceptional 3D philosophy is keeping 3D simple and more affordable. They use software that's compatible with 3ds Max and Maya, and promise to deliver the highest quality of auto-stereoscopic 3D displays, software and 3D content for widespread adaptation at cost effective prices.


Like other auto-stereoscopic companies, Exceptional3D has chosen to use an auto-stereoscopic 3D compositing software provided by 3D International Group, who just recently (as of early 2011) acquired Visumotion, and is the software developer responsible for producing the no-glasses 3D compositing tool.


From Exceptional 3D:


"This past year, we've seen 3D movies & 3D TV’s with glasses make a big impact on our technological culture and society.The release of Nintendo 3DS has shown us what is desired. The marketplace has an appetite for 3D without glasses and the digital signage industry is poised to handle breaking the technology out in a big way.
In the past, 3D auto-stereoscopic displays and 3D content were cost prohibitive for mass adoption by resellers, integrators and end users. We've listened to you developed a business model for the digital signage industry that aims to allow any customer to purchase the highest quality auto-stereoscopic 3D displays, software and content for a widespread adaptation. With an extremely cost effective model, there is nothing stopping the movement of no-glasses 3D from directly competing with traditional 2D solutions."