3-D Television

This year Panasonic and Sony are saying that they will have 3-D televisions on the market this in 2010. JVC and Mitsubishi are also said to be in the works of this technology. According to Panasonic’s Executive Producer Vice President Robert Perry the 3-D television is “the next frontier.” The comparison he made was when color television took over black and white television. Another example of this comparison would be standard definition television to now high definition television. In fact, ESPN is testing this 3-D concept by shooting sporting events with a two lens set allowing the sports players to spear three dimensional. Although the 3-D television would require a owner to buy a new television and use 3-D glasses the price would not be too much higher than certain types of high definition televisions currently available to buy.

However, there are some people who believe that homes are not ready for 3-D television. Since 3-D broadcasts needs twice the amount of data it might take up too much bandwidth in television. There is also the fear that the 3-D glasses will not be accepted in American homes. Some reasons include giving viewers a headache, like they do to the HDTV Magazine’s publisher Shane Sturgeon. Sturgeon believes that the manufacturers are not ready yet and there are too many factors taking away from the enjoyment of a film with the 3-D concept.

The concept of the technology in 3-D technology is that different images are given to the left and right eyes and the person’s brain will put the two together creating the idea of 3-D. Each company goes about this in their own way. By using “high refresh rates” and “active glasses” Sony and Panasonic showed their concept in Atlanta, Georgia at a technology expo. By having the two different images going through the right and left eye they go back and forth very fast on the screen. The person’s vision goes back and forth due to the 3-D glasses shutters and they change by 240 hertz or 120 hertz. There is a sensor in-between the 3-D glasses that connect the images. Since it happens so fast the brain is fooled and is able to connect the images creating the 3-D effect according to Sony’s content manager, John Wyckoff. However, if one looks away from the television the viewer can see the opening and closing of the lenses, which can be annoying.

Although this may be the case the Panasonic’s footage of skiers appearing to be flying into the laps of audience members in the Olympic events in 3-D technology impressed viewers at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association Expo. Although David Lesch who is the AC Media sales director found himself to be “fidgeting” with the 3-D glasses during this Panasonic demo the picture of the 3-D images on the one hundred and three inch plasma screen was great. However, he was not sure if the image would have been as impressive on a different type of television program. Lesch added,"I cannot imagine that I will watch CNN in 3-D. But for sports, yes. To watch soccer and ice hockey -- anything -- that would be great." 3-D television or the “next-generation televisions” would have the ability to show images in not only 3-D bu 2-D as well. At the expo in Atlanta Sony showed this as well.

According to Sturgen at HDTV Magazine rather than having strobing glasses like Panasonic and Sony they are making a different type of 3-D television. Instead glasses that are polarized are used by JVC. In fact, since the left eye’s image and the right eye’s image are separated it is more appeasing to watch.

In addition, along with 3-D glasses live television in 3-D will need to have new type of broadcasting equipment which means a lot of major converting in technology. Plus, Bu-ray is in the works of creating a type of technology that allows movies that are 3-D in ones home.

3-D products created by Sony and Panasonic admit that they are working on getting rid of kinks that still exist. However, Perry at Panasonic said that he thinks in five to ten years 3-D television will be a common technology within homes. In ten to fifteen years he believes tat 3-D television without the use of glasses will exist.

A spokesman Michael Bridwell for Digital Projection which is a company that creates 3-D home theaters that are high-end says that in the “foreseeable future” 3-D television will be the “biggest” technology on television and in home movies. He followed this by saying, "until we get to holograms," he said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/18/3D.home.television/index.html

International Consumer Electronics Show

At the International Consumer Electronics Show from January 7-10 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was another great year of technology and gadgets. In fact, the company that developed HD radio in band/on channel, iBiquity Digital Corporation, plus other partners who help them manufacture, made announcements that are very excited about the future of their developments. iBiquity’s HD radio has to have a special receiver and it has the FM and AM analog. Simulcasting is also inexpensive when it comes to HD Radio, which is also a plus (Pg. 341).

Kiryoung and Cydle Corporation, who are two manufacturers, presented prototype receivers through ATSC Mobile DTV and HD Radio reception. In October 2009 the Advanced Television Systems Committee located in Washington D.C., adopted ATSC Mobile DTV Standard. Plus, they promised that there would be new services in mobile television to United States Consumers and television broadcasters.

In addition, many different types of features and devices that are more advanced that HD Radio technology supports were shown for the first time at this event. For example, the portable navigation device (PND) with a HD Radio Receiver (Vehicle Power Adapter), that includes NAVTEQ Dynamic Content to give traffic in real-time as well as fuel prices and weather information.

Another feature shown was a Clear Channel Real Time Traffic that included a Journaline Information Services that is displayed by a JVC KD-NT3HDT in dash receiver as well as a HD Radio supporting image development platform in dash that had features including pictures of album art, branding and advertising of clients, images of stations and logos, and news, plus sports updates. In the iBiquity booth there was a sample of the album art transmission. iBiquity also has a plan to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help the integration of features for receiving partners later in 2010.

Cydle Corporation also had the PND that had a built in HD Radio Electronic Program Guide (EPG). This EPG technology was created under NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program. There was also protected content delivered by NDS that was aimed at receivers that included services for radio reading for people who were visually impaired as well as premium content about sports. Another word for all of this that was created by NDS who worked with iBiquity was “conditional access.”

The first Sangean DT-800 HD portable receiver that could operate AM and FM-band HD radio was displayed in the iBiquity booth as well. There were special features included such as a rechargeable battery, a speaker that was already built in, a sleep timer as well as twenty radio stations that could be preset. In 2010 they expect it to be available however, it is still being further developed.

HD radio technology was shown at the HD radio booth in three new vehicles. This included a 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO, and a 2010 Scion xB. Ford also announced that in most of their vehicles in 2010 they would have HD technology. They even expect to be the first factory to have iTunes as part of their model. In addition, Volkswagen said that in selected models in 2010 they would have a DVD navigational system that will have HD Radio technology. HD Radio technology will also be in Kia select models as well. The 2011 Sonata will have the first middle-sized sedan that will have HD Radio technology as well, announced Hyundai. Plus in 2011 Lincoln vehicles HD Radio Technology and DTS Neural Surround will be in certain THX II certified system vehicles.

I think HD Radio technology and all the special features that come along with it will definitely impact the industry. If HD Radios are in cars they will make HD Radio technology more popular and give more people access to this type of technology. Currently HD Radio technology costs extra but if it comes with the car then more people will be able to use this radio format. This format may effect local radio stations because people may rather listen to one of the many options available on this technology rather than their local radio station.

Therefore, HD Radio technology will impact the audience because they will have the option of listening to their local radio stations or HD Radio. Their decision will impact if both formats of radio will exists or if one will prosper over the other. It will only be a matter of time before that decision is clear to radio professionals.

http://www.radioheardhere.com/hdradio_ces.htm

At the International Consumer Electronics Show from January 7-10 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was another great year of technology and gadgets. In fact, the company that developed HD radio in band/on channel, iBiquity Digital Corporation, plus other partners who help them manufacture, made announcements that are very excited about the future of their developments. iBiquity’s HD radio has to have a special receiver and it has the FM and AM analog. Simulcasting is also inexpensive when it comes to HD Radio, which is also a plus (Pg. 341).

Kiryoung and Cydle Corporation, who are two manufacturers, presented prototype receivers through ATSC Mobile DTV and HD Radio reception. In October 2009 the Advanced Television Systems Committee located in Washington D.C., adopted ATSC Mobile DTV Standard. Plus, they promised that there would be new services in mobile television to United States Consumers and television broadcasters.

In addition, many different types of features and devices that are more advanced that HD Radio technology supports were shown for the first time at this event. For example, the portable navigation device (PND) with a HD Radio Receiver (Vehicle Power Adapter), that includes NAVTEQ Dynamic Content to give traffic in real-time as well as fuel prices and weather information.

Another feature shown was a Clear Channel Real Time Traffic that included a Journaline Information Services that is displayed by a JVC KD-NT3HDT in dash receiver as well as a HD Radio supporting image development platform in dash that had features including pictures of album art, branding and advertising of clients, images of stations and logos, and news, plus sports updates. In the iBiquity booth there was a sample of the album art transmission. iBiquity also has a plan to release a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help the integration of features for receiving partners later in 2010.

Cydle Corporation also had the PND that had a built in HD Radio Electronic Program Guide (EPG). This EPG technology was created under NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program. There was also protected content delivered by NDS that was aimed at receivers that included services for radio reading for people who were visually impaired as well as premium content about sports. Another word for all of this that was created by NDS who worked with iBiquity was “conditional access.”

The first Sangean DT-800 HD portable receiver that could operate AM and FM-band HD radio was displayed in the iBiquity booth as well. There were special features included such as a rechargeable battery, a speaker that was already built in, a sleep timer as well as twenty radio stations that could be preset. In 2010 they expect it to be available however, it is still being further developed.

HD radio technology was shown at the HD radio booth in three new vehicles. This included a 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO, and a 2010 Scion xB. Ford also announced that in most of their vehicles in 2010 they would have HD technology. They even expect to be the first factory to have iTunes as part of their model. In addition, Volkswagen said that in selected models in 2010 they would have a DVD navigational system that will have HD Radio technology. HD Radio technology will also be in Kia select models as well. The 2011 Sonata will have the first middle-sized sedan that will have HD Radio technology as well, announced Hyundai. Plus in 2011 Lincoln vehicles HD Radio Technology and DTS Neural Surround will be in certain THX II certified system vehicles.

I think HD Radio technology and all the special features that come along with it will definitely impact the industry. If HD Radios are in cars they will make HD Radio technology more popular and give more people access to this type of technology. Currently HD Radio technology costs extra but if it comes with the car then more people will be able to use this radio format. This format may effect local radio stations because people may rather listen to one of the many options available on this technology rather than their local radio station.

Therefore, HD Radio technology will impact the audience because they will have the option of listening to their local radio stations or HD Radio. Their decision will impact if both formats of radio will exists or if one will prosper over the other. It will only be a matter of time before that decision is clear to radio professionals.

http://www.radioheardhere.com/hdradio_ces.htm