Right now, in the lead up to the Olympics, all major TV manufacturers are hot on promoting their latest 3D TVs. Whether it’s Sony, Samsung or Panasonic, they are all competing for what is sure to be a lucrative market in the coming months. But is 3D technology now worth investing in, and is this technology now truly the future of TV?3D Televisions

3D TVs – Pros and Cons

First, let’s consider the pros and cons of 3D television. As advertised, 3D TV can enhance your viewing experience and bring your imagination to life. If you were captivated and drawn in by a movie before, imagine being able to see it in 3D, outside of your screen! 3D enhances the visual captivation of the movie when done correctly. However, it does come at a price and if you’re looking for very cheap televisions, 3D TVs are still likely to be outside your budget at is still emerging technology.

The cons, most movies were not produced for 3D; furthermore, adding in 3D elements after production produces somewhat poorer results. Should 3D television become the constant demand, movie producers will be forced to convert movies to 3D in order to make sales and often, their budget will be quite low. As a result, the quality will probably suffer.

Another con of 3D television is that it takes away from the socialization of television. With a standard TV you can talk to your friends and family, engage in banter or even flip through a magazine during commercial breaks if so inclined. 3D television is much less social. It requires the full attention, and eye contact of its viewers. While it is most definitely an enhanced television viewing experience, it limits the social capabilities of watching TV. I.E. Football parties turn into staring at the TV sessions rather than a party.

For the majority of people, 3D television packages offer the very best home entertainment has to offer. Unfortunately, for many people, it is also a headache. 3D television causes more eye strain than viewing regular TV, and some users with certain eye disorders might not be able to see the 3D effects at all. Movie goers questioned after viewing 3D movies quite often admit to tired or fatigued eyes.  Even with newer, cooler and more technical improvements, wearing 3D glasses can be an annoyance that most people just don’t want to bother with.

The Future

However; broadcasters in the U.S. such as Sky 3D and even corporations such as Samsung are going full steam ahead for the release of 3D. Samsung plans on a free 3D on demand channel to attempt to introduce viewers to 3D television. And why not, Samsung currently holds more than 50% of the sales in 3D television worldwide.

Sky 3D has published more than 120 live sports games in 3D and are currently working on the production of 3D movies and television. Director of Sky3D, John Casey is so optimistic about the rise of 3D television that he is currently planning on a 3D subscription that allows TV viewers to pay extra per month to view 3D channels.

But what about 3D television, is it the future of TV? Studies say no. 3D television does not provide enough advantages to the average movie watcher to interest them into purchasing 3D. While it does expand on the visual impact of the movie, 3D doesn’t fix a bad plot or poor dialogue, movie goers are interested in what they always have been, the movie rather than the effects.

However, that despite the dis-interest and even boredom of most movie fans with 3D, it is still likely to be a popular option for many homes. While it won’t be as popular; or as money making as HD TV or even Blu-Ray, 3d offers a unique and interesting experience to fans of television who want to see their movies as realistically as possible. The future of 3D TV isn’t doomed as many critics such as the New York Times are predicting, however; it will not be as popular as other television commodities currently on the market.

Scott spends most of his day keeping up to date with the latest TV technology and the rest of it searching for cheap televisions deals!