We all know the problem with 3D glasses. The flimsy movie theater pair is super uncomfortable and the high-tech ones are pricey and impractical. But what if you could go see the latest blockbuster and experience 3D entertainment without wearing glasses? James Cameron, the famous Hollywood Director, has made it his mission to integrate the glass-less 3D technology alongside the release of Avatar 2 in 2020.


Avatar Disrupting the Film Industry

After accepting honorary membership into the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers this past November, James Cameron discussed his dedication to advancing 3D technology: “I’m going to push. Not for better tools, workflow, high dynamic range (HDR) and high frame rates (HFR) – the things we are working toward. I’m still very much bullish on 3D, but we need brighter projection, and ultimately I think it can happen – with no glasses. We’ll get there.”

Cameron’s quest to disrupt the motion picture industry has already taken a step in the right direction. In March, Lightstorm Entertainment (Cameron’s production company) signed a five-year agreement with Christie Digital – an innovative company known for engineering RGB laser projection systems with 6,000 lumens. With some of the Best Smart Projectors only reaching 3,000 lumens, this would be quite the difference in brightness for movie goers. According to a recent Futurism article, Christie Digital, “solves the problem of blur and distortion in high frame rates.”

Glass-Less 3D Movie Technology

Beyond the RGB projectors that keep up with high frame rates, glass-less 3D movie technology already exists. It’s just a matter of harnessing it on a large-scale. Researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) alongside Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science created its own version of glass-free 3D movie tech using a series of strategically placed lenses and mirrors. The innovation allows movie-goers to experience 3D from any seat in the theater. “This is the first technical approach that allows for glasses-free 3D on a large scale,” explains Wojciech Matusik, the MIT professor who co-authored the paper on the technology.

Screen-Produced Holograms

Cameron’s glasses-free 3D technology is more than just visuals coming off the screen. He’s proposing a screen produced hologram capable of delivering the audience a fully immersive viewing experience. Just like the first Avatar, the technology will extend beyond the motion pictures and present itself in other industries. From serious gamers wanting to ditch the headset for a more immersive VR experience to online shoppers wanting a 360-degree view of their merchandise before making an online purchase, glass-less 3D holograms could revolutionize how we interact with objects in every facet of life.

With James Cameron focused solely on directing Avatar sequels and knowing his dedication to incorporating the latest in movie magic, we’re all in for a treat. If the first Avatar is any indication of things to come, we should expect another revolution in visual media in the form of immersive VR technology.

About Christie Digital

Christie is a global visual, audio and collaboration solutions company offering diverse solutions for business, entertainment and industry. Christie continues to break new ground as a powerhouse of innovation: leading the film-to-digital conversion, putting pixels everywhere with Christie MicroTiles® and digital displays, and bringing massive landmarks to life with projection mapping.
The company is on the leading edge of new and exciting solutions: introducing immersive audio, advancing seamless presentation and collaboration, and opening up a new frontier with laser projection.

Source: Futurism, Christie Digital, IndieWire