P3D Re: C3D - broadcasting 3D television

[bob Wier <wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
>Simple dimissals, made at a distance, and based on second-hand information 
>doesn't do it.  Unless, that is, the world is not supposed to get any bigger 
>than the stated preconceptions of some list regulars.  Fortunately the web 
>is bigger than us all.  To check out C3D (at a distance) see:
>http://www.3d.com
>
>

You may be right (hope you are). But they have a VERY tough row to
hoe to make a go of it is my impression.

My skepticsm is based in large part on the myrid number of satellite
channels which have been proposed and failed. The problem as I see it
is that there aren't enough C-banders any more to provide an 
economic base, and cable compaines are FAR more interested in offering
shopping channels where they get a cut of each sale, plus many
cable companies are "filled" channel wise to boot. 

My other major problem
is the way that the 2d->3d auto conversion is being advertised. 
It's obvious (at least to me) that the lack of programming material
makes this claim absolutely necessary to achieve market penetration.
However, unless somebody has come up with something REALLY 
innovative as far as real time 2d->3d conversion is concerned, 
it may well leave consumers with expectations too high (I'm reminded
of when Color TV came out - you could buy a plastic sheet that
stuck onto the screen of your Black and White tv and see things 
IN COLOR! - well, it was colored blue at the top, and green at the bottom).

Even a company as large as Hughes began by advertising DBS television
(the 18" dish) as LASER QUALITY VIDEO and CD qualtity sound. Both
were substantially better than over the air or cable reception in
general, but advertising that way was misleading - neither is true.
There are both video and audio artifacts due to the MPEG compression
used (although it's getting better). 

But don't get me wrong - I'll be delighted if they make it - it 
would/will be wonderful to have a stable, continual outlet for
true 3D work to be presented to the public.

--Bob Wier

       mailto:wier@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
       2:05 PM Tuesday, July 20, 1999
     Unix/Internet Systems Administrator
    Rocky Mountain College, Billings, MT
      (currently in Ouray, Colorado)



------------------------------