3D Live Broadcast TV

The camera array utilized to capture the images for live broadcast.

A pretty boring still photo of the blurry images on the 3D screen.

One of the really cool parts of my job is that I get to see some emerging technology before the masses do. Before the start of the Orange Bowl last week, we were invited to check out a trial of a new technology - live broadcast 3D television. The system utilizes multiple cameras that are slightly offset to capture the scene in binocular vision - the way our vision works. It's then transmitted instantly - just like regular television to a special 3D monitor. The output - to the naked eye is varying degree of blurriness.

When you put on the special 3D glasses (independently polarized) the TV becomes 3 Dimensional. It was really amazing to look at the field - which was just outside of where we were sitting - in real time and feel like you could put your hand into the television. The depth was incredible.

This has been done recently in both an NBA game as well as an NFL game broadcast to a closed audience, but now - THIS week's game - the National Championship will be broadcast to 80 theaters around the country. You can go to the theater and watch the ball game live in 3D. It won't be a complete production - with all the same announcers, replays and stats on the screen because they have a limited number of cameras to use for this broadcast, but still it will be groundbreaking stuff.

You can see the promotional website for the broadcast Here:

The video below is one I took of the 3D screen - it's not a good video at all, but you can see the 'blurry' images that become 3 dimensional when you put the glasses on. I know this doesn't interest many people, but I just love new technology.