News Stories

3D LCD TV Panel Shipments Grow 104% in Q1’11, DisplaySearch Reports

5.31.2011

[by ECN]

According to the latest Quarterly Large Area TFT LCD Shipment Report –Advanced LED+3D, 3D LCD TV panel shipments increased to 1.9 million units in Q1’11, jumping 104% Q/Q. This growth represents a 3.9% penetration among all LCD TV panels shipped. In addition, panel manufacturers are aggressively working to further increase 3D TV panel penetration in 2011, targeting 16.8% penetration in Q4’11, and 12.3% for 2011.

Table 1: LCD TV Panel 2D/3D Shipment Share*


“LCD TV panel makers are leveraging 3D as an important feature to rejuvenate TV market demand, in the hope that 3D provides a new viewing experience for consumers,” noted David Hsieh, Vice President of the Greater China Market for DisplaySearch. “The addition of 3D is attractive to panel makers because the price premium can help them increase average selling prices. Of course, there are many challenges for the industry in promoting 3D LCD TVs to end users, such as inadequate 3D content, the presence of flicker or crosstalk that can cause dizziness, price, uncomfortable glasses, and confusion about different 3D technologies.”

LCD panel makers have aggressive plans to expand 3D LCD TV panel shipments this year, as they believe 2011 will be the year that is 3DTV’s potential is realized. In Q1’11, shutter glass type 3D TV panel shipments reached more than 1M units, while pattern retarder type 3D TV panels followed closely behind with approximately 880K units shipped.

DisplaySearch analysis in the Quarterly Large Area TFT LCD Shipment Report –Advanced LED+3D showed that LCD TV panel makers are working on the following approaches to stimulate 3D TV demand:

3D Price Premium Reductions

For the past several months, panel makers have continuously guided 3D panel price premiums downward. The 3D premium in 240 Hz panels for use with shutter glasses has been reduced from over $50 last year to $25 this year. On the other hand, pattern retarder technology is considered to have higher cost premiums than high frame rate panels due to the difficulties in producing 3D polarizing films. Because of this, some panel makers have introduced pattern retarder 3D panels with CCFL backlights, trading the LED backlight premium for the 3D premium. This approach has had some success in the China market.

3D Viewing Experience

Panel makers are leveraging new technologies to improve the 3D viewing experience, including the pattern retarder method to reduce flicker, or shutter glasses to enhance the 240 Hz driving frequency and reduce cross talk.

3D Glasses

Manufacturers have improved 3D glasses, including the development of cheaper, more user-friendly, fashionable and comfortable glasses. Some have also developed universal glasses to achieve compatibility.

Emphasis on 2D Performance

Since the amount of time consumers spend watching 2D content will exceed that of 3D on a 3D-ready TV, it is important to not sacrifice 2D quality, including full HD picture quality and high brightness. Some panel makers have developed high aperture pixel technology to improve vivid full HD picture quality, as well as high contrast panel technology to realize real black, even in low gray scales.

The Advanced LED+3D version of the Quarterly Large Area TFT LCD Shipment Report covers the entire range of large-area panels shipped worldwide and by region, with LED-backlit and 3D panels featured. With 100% coverage of panel makers and authored by industry experts, the Quarterly Large Area TFT LCD Shipment Report analyzes historical shipments and forecasts projections to provide some of the most detailed information and insights available. The report is delivered in Excel pivot tables, flex spreadsheets and a PowerPoint analysis. For more information, contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

See the original post here: http://www.ecnmag.com/News/2011/05/3D-LCD-TV-Panel-Shipments-Grow-104–in-Q1’11,-DisplaySearch-Reports/

NASA Exploration Experience Exhibit to Launch Visitors on 3D Journey Through the Cosmos at Strawberry Festival

5.30.2011

[by PressZoom]

Visitors will be propelled into a 3D journey across the solar system when they step inside the “NASA Exploration Experience” at the Strawberry Festival in Troy, Ohio, June 4-5. The exhibit demonstrates the countless rewards made possible back on Earth by NASA’s 50+ years of science, discovery and technology development.

The traveling exhibit, which uses 3D imagery and the latest interactive video technology to immerse visitors in the experience, will be located on the levee along the Great Miami River. The NASA exhibit will be open to the public on Saturday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibit is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible.

On Saturday at 9 a.m., NASA will participate in the festival’s parade, displaying its 30-foot shuttle float. Following the parade the float will be located in the NASA exhibit area.

“We hope visitors to the NASA Exploration Experience will be excited and astonished by the impact of space exploration on their everyday lives,” said Rocky Lind, communications manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “In the past five decades, NASA research and development has resulted in more than 2,000 breakthrough tools and technologies. These contributions are everywhere, in every walk of human life – from medicine and surgical procedures, to transportation systems and basic food safety and public safety solutions.”

In addition to highlighting many of these innovations, the “NASA Exploration Experience” 3D movie presentation demonstrates the physiological and technical challenges involved in sending human explorers on extended journeys to Earth orbit and beyond.

The exhibit will feature a moon rock that was retrieved by astronaut Jack Schmitt during the Apollo 17 mission. It is one of eight lunar samples made available for the public to touch.

Visitors will also see how NASA and its government, industry and academic partners around the world are developing robust science missions to new worlds and new destinations, and building next-generation launch vehicles to extend humanity’s reach across the solar system. This cinematic experience, narrated by Peter Cullen – the voice of “Optimus Prime” from the popular “Transformers” movies and cartoons – ponders the thirst for understanding that drives human voyages of discovery, and offers breathtaking glimpses into a busy future in space.

NASA employees will be on hand to answer questions and discuss how America’s space exploration activities continue to refine existing technologies and contribute new breakthroughs in areas such as power generation, computer technology, communications, networking and robotics.

Visitors can take away unique souvenirs of their NASA experience. They can either step into a Mark III spacesuit and take a photo of themselves in astronaut gear with their own camera, or stop by the “Picture Yourself in Space” photo booth for a free photo taken as an astronaut.

For more information about the traveling exhibit and NASA’s exploration mission, visit: exploration.nasa.gov

See the original post here; http://presszoom.com/story_166399.html

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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