# Will 3D be as common as colour?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-3d-be-as-common-as-colour/623313>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 28, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-3d-be-as-common-as-colour/623313 "2012-05-28T03:34:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-3d-be-as-common-as-colour/623313/41 "2012-06-04T23:47:57Z")

</div>

> [@Student\_Driver](#):
>
> The LG 3D TVs use polarization, “passive” 3D, as you ask. The polarization is compatible with Real3D theater glasses, so I’ve now got like 40 pairs of glasses that work with my TV (attn: friends who go to theaters- stop giving me your glasses, including a few in Marvel shapes (from the recent Marvel Movie Marathon celebrating the Avengers premiere). From what I understand, the passive 3D from Vizio is also LG/Real3D compatible. So, there’s not only the passive system you ask for, but there seems to be convergence around a common standard.
> 
> Short answer to the OP: I’m a huge 3D fan, bought my TV and most of my BR collection with 3D in mind, but I don’t expect 3D to be as common as color. I expect it to be a connoisseur format, with a limited subset of current releases being released in the specialist format.

Well, that does eliminate one problem, then, and actually means I might actually get a 3D TV someday. I can’t stand it on big screens, but it’s not so bad on smaller ones.

But, anyways, that doesn’t address the main concept that people would have to be wearing the glasses 24/7 for advertising displays to use it. At that point, I think it will still be cheaper to leave off the polarization coating. There may be some places that opt for 3D as a gimmick, with a big sign telling you to put on your glasses, but that’s all I can see with polarization.

The only current 3D technology I see working is autosteroscopy, and that only if they can eliminate sweet spots as being relevant. The one problems people have with the 3D of the 3DS is that you have to hold the console perfectly still to use it.

And I still agree that, in general usage, 3D will remain an optional extra. The worst downsides of 3D are only there if the 3D is not optional.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-3d-be-as-common-as-colour/623313.md?page=2)