Get your glasses on, 3D TV streaming live to your house

THX Ltd. and partners will demonstrate the world's first live high definition (HD) streaming broadcast of 3D TV during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.

The company will send live HD 3D content from Germany to the Microsoft booth at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The stream will show 3D TVs and home theater components automatically switching between 2D and 3D settings in real time when content is streamed live.

People have been talking about 3D film and TV content for decades. In fact some of the first 3D films date back to the late 1800s. But the cost of producing high quality 3D content largely saw the format relegated to small localized events - that was until 3D cinema hit the mainstream market in 2010.

Companies are now rushing to innovate in the fields of 3D TV and cinema, hoping to bring consumers a 3D cinema-like experience in their own homes.

This year, 3D cinema has become a reality for millions of people across the globe. 3D TV is starting to catch on too. Samsung launched the world's first 3D-ready TV in February this year and electronics makers Sony and Panasonic are following suit with their range of 3D-ready TVs.

THX and Microsoft's demonstration of live HD 3D content streaming gives an example of how 3D content might be distributed to consumers' homes in the near future.

"THX Media Director simplifies the 3D experience, enabling TVs and other devices to select the appropriate playback settings automatically, letting users enjoy the benefits of 3D without constantly reaching for the remote control," said Rick Dean, senior vice president at THX Ltd. and chairman of the 3D@Home Consortium.

On April 12 Motorola also simplified 3D TV for consumers with the release of their 3D TV set-top for cable TV subscribers. The set-top box detects the presence of 3D content and reformats all on-screen text and graphics to match the 3D format. It also limits the need to reach for a remote to reconfigure your TV when it switches from 2D to 3D content.

"The development of this 3D software enhancement gives our service provider customers a straightforward solution for deploying high-quality 3D TV services today using their existing video delivery infrastructure. By focusing on the customer's viewing experience Motorola has taken 3D TV to the next level and helped our industry to bring the experience of 3D from the theater into the living-room," said John Burke, senior vice president, Motorola Mobile Devices and Home.

The NAB Show runs from April 12 to 15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, USA.

http://www.nabshow.com/2010/