In the race for 3D TV supremacy, major electronics giants Sony, Panasonic and Samsung have announced that they are ready to launch 3D HDTVs this year with a slew of models with sizes ranging from 40 inches to 55 inches. But to view 3D in all its glory you need more than just a 3D capable TV and a 3D source. You will also need to put on 3D glasses to get the full 3D experience.

The original 3D experience of movies depended on the viewer wearing stereoscopic green and red glasses. The illusion of 3D in the image came from superimposed green and red images taken from slightly different angles. Each eye saw only one image, and the viewer’s brain combined them to give the illusion of three dimensions. 3D movies using this technology, called anaglyph 3D, can be viewed on any TV, as long as the viewer wears the glasses.

Anaglyph 3D Glasses

The problem with anaglyph 3D is that it strains the eyes, and can cause headaches and nausea in some people. Others have a dominant eye, and find it difficult to see the image as three dimensional.

Now Sony and Panasonic have introduced an “active shutter” technique for high definition plasma and LCD TVs. The viewer still has to wear polarized glasses, but in this system the glasses have LCD active shutters that are synchronized with signals from the TV. The shutters rapidly block the right and left eye views alternately so each eye receives the correct image.

Active Shutter 3d Glasses

Panasonic says that a pair of 3D glasses will be supplied with the TV sets. There is no information yet on the prices of these televisions.