Sharp’s Glasses-free 3D Display

We haven’t had a glasses-free 3D display story for a while, so expect another two later. Sharp have announced the LL-151-3D display – a 15” LCD that gives a 3D image without requiring the user to wear special glasses.

The screen has two displays built into it at different angles, and uses a parallax barrier to make these present a depth of field effect, by presenting a slightly different image to each eye.

I’ll let Sharp’s boffins explain it themselves: “Sharp’s TFT 3D LCD technology works on the principle of displaying left and right eye views that are separated so that the left eye sees only the left eye image, and the right eye sees only the right eye image,” explained Matthew. “Since these images have perspective and are offset in the same way that the human eye normally sees the two images, the brain naturally interprets the image disparity and creates a ‘sense of depth’ effect. The result is a 3D, ‘out of screen’ display,’ that provides users with a visual experience previously unattainable without polarized or liquid crystal shuttering lenses.”

The display can be easily switched between 2D and 3D modes, but can auto detect content and switch automatically.

At US$1500 (€1226) the display is aimed at designers, medical imaging systems, education and gamers with deep pockets. It could just conceivably find its way into someone’s ultimate Half Life 2 rig. NVIDIA even have a list of games that are compatible with the LL-151-3D. Or I suppose you could just stare at molecules all day.

LL-151-3D