The Eyewear-Free 3D Tablet That Could Revive 3D Entertainment
Remember the big craze for 3D movies? And then how quickly that faded? Likely due to 3D glasses being the flimsiest, annoying eyewear to wear for 2 hours. But a company has figured out a way to let users watch 3D media without wearing any eyewear at all.
ZTE Corporation, a provider of information and communication technology solutions, demonstrated its 5G+AI eyewear-free 3D tablet, the nubia Pad 3D II, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2024 earlier this year.
Apparently, this isn't the first 3D tablet on the market, which is news to me. There aren't many, but more than one is a surprise.
Enhanced by an AI processing engine, the nubia Pad's 3D display technology allows users to enjoy an eyewear-free 3D experience anytime, anywhere. With liquid crystal lenses and powered by integrated image processing algorithms, it renders 3D images with enhanced realism and vibrancy.
It also uses an AI eye-tracking engine that uses high-speed visual sensors and eye-detection algorithms to enhance response speed and enable accurate positioning of users' eyes in real time so that the 3D image is more natural and realistic. With an 86-degree ultra-wide viewing angle, users can enjoy the 3D experience from almost any direction.
Another innovative breakthrough of the Pad 3D II is the adoption of Neovision 3D Anytime technology, which converts 2D content into 3D content based on advanced AI neural network deep learning algorithms. So in basic terms, you don't have to worry about finding or accessing 3D content to view, the Neovision 3D Anytime technology converts it for you. With just a click, various forms of 2D content, including pictures, games, videos, or streaming media, can be transformed into eyewear-free 3D visuals on the tablet.
Of course, that's still not all. The Pad supports AI 3D multiscreen collaboration. If you happen to have a ZTE smartphone, you can stream applications' interfaces to the tablet wirelessly, letting you view, touch, and control the apps in 3D. It also allows any device that supports Miracast to project display to this tablet for 3D viewing without a wire.
"In recent years, ZTE has been actively investing in research and development for eyewear-free 3D technology and ecosystem. nubia Pad 3D II is the first to integrate 5G and AI in the industry, having made significant advancements in 3D visual effects and Neovision 3D anytime technology. In the wave of 5G, ZTE is collaborating closely with China Mobile and all partners in establishing a full-scenario 3D ecosystem, allowing more consumers to enjoy the charm of 3D," said Ni Fei, Senior Vice President at ZTE and President at ZTE Mobile Devices.
Based on these features, I expect this tablet will come with a pretty hefty price tag once they're released, which there isn't a date for yet or really any videos of it either. There is a predecessor, the nubia Pad 3D, released in the U.S. as the Leia Lume Pad, which you can watch a review of in the video below. Due to the eye-tracking technology of the devices, it likely won't look as cool to you watching it through video as it would if it was right in front of you.
Maybe this will reignite the 3D craze in media. It would but nuts if TVs started having 3D. Can you imagine commercials shoving 3D chicken wings in your face during a football game? Technology is crazy and I'm constantly amazed at what we come up with.
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Created by the editors of New Equipment Digest and Plant Services, Fun Innovations Friday is a feel-good blog that showcases how advances in science, math, engineering, and technology are making our world more whimsical. Here's another post that's guaranteed to brighten your day.
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