CEA widens 3D focus

PHYSICAL: Trade group aims to speed up standards adoption

By Danny King -- Video Business, 5/26/2009

MAY 26 | PHYSICAL: The Consumer Electronics Association will boost its attention to emerging 3D technology by starting a so-called working group dedicated to create standards for home entertainment 3D.

Among the initiatives for the Arlington, Va.-based trade group is drafting standards related to 3D glasses, CEA said in a statement today. About 26 million households are interesting and buying products allowing for 3D in the home, the group said, citing its study with USC's Entertainment and Technology Center.

"The creation of CEA's new 3D Technology working group reflects industry enthusiasm for ensuring interoperability among 3D displays, glasses and video sources," said Brian Markwalter, VP of technology and standards at CEA.

The lack of such 3D standards will prevent the industry from creating 3D products for the home that are comparable in quality to movie theaters for at least two years, U.K.-based Futuresource said earlier this month.

Still, by 2012, about 10% of U.S. households will have the equipment necessary to view 3D content on their televisions, with that number jumping to as high as 70% by 2015, according to Futuresource.

With reporting by Susanne Ault