It wasn't that long ago that 3D was seen as a cheap gimmick, and sure, the red-green glasses found in cereal boxes were fun, but who would have predicted the medium's recent rise in popularity?
Granted, the technology behind 3D media is now more advanced than simple anaglyph images, but the three-dimensional juggernaut is showing no signs of stopping - though it is perhaps slowing down.
In what we like to call the 'post-Avatar' world, the industry's biggest names have queued up to deliver 3D content and reap the perceived financial rewards. The majority of today's blockbuster movies are shown in 3D, some of the latest games consoles use three-dimensional tech, smartphones appear to be headed in the same direction, and, if you're a Sky subscriber, you can enjoy 3D content ranging from Kylie in concert to live Premier League football right in the comfort of your own home. Even the BBC has announced that its 2012 London Olympics coverage will "showcase 3D for the biggest moments."
3D is everywhere, but the success of the medium is anything but guaranteed. Despite an industry-wide move toward the third dimension, cinema attendance has continued to fall, and while analysts have predicted that close to half of all UK households will own a 3DTV set by 2015, consumer demand isn't anywhere near as strong in other regions. In France, pay TV giant Canal Plus closed its 3D channel last month, having amassed less than 20,000 3D subscribers in over a year.
The jury's still out on whether or not 3D technology is here to stay, but we want to know what you, the consumer, has to say. Do you actually enjoy the 3D experience? Whether it's at the cinema, in the home or on the go, share your thoughts in the HEXUS forums.
