Introducing the Next Wave of 3D Tech
So, like, if there’s one thing that totally puts people off from getting into new tech, it’s having to look totally ridiculous and feel super awkward for, like, a long time. It was always the weak point for 3D back in the day, and it’s still a major obstacle for VR headsets and those goofy smart glasses. But guess what? There’s a whole new wave of 3D tech coming at ya. Laptops, tablets, and even computer monitors are starting to embrace a fresh form of 3D technology that totally solves this problem without sacrificing the awesomeness of 3D visuals. I’ve checked out the latest version of this tech and chatted with the creators, and I gotta say, this might just be the 3D that actually sticks around.
The New Frontier of 3D
I was kinda skeptical when I first laid eyes on this new generation of 3D tech. Interest in 3D kinda comes and goes, you know? It made Avatar the biggest movie ever, and then it became a big joke. But this new batch of 3D products isn’t just a repeat of past failures. There’s a fresh technology behind this trend, and that’s what’s making this new era of 3D so intriguing. The folks behind this tech have been keeping an eye on the momentum. “Right now, we might just be hitting the turning point,” says David Fattal, who’s the cofounder and chief technology officer of Leia Inc. This company started out as a spinoff of HP Labs over ten years ago and has been behind pretty much all the 3D stuff in gadgets lately. They even worked on the Red Hydrogen One phone in 2018, which didn’t really take off, and their own hardware projects like the Lume Pad 2 Android tablet in 2023.
When I first checked out the Acer SpatialLabs gaming monitors a while back (they use Leia’s tech), I could tell that the glasses-free experience had a certain magic to it. Despite my doubts at first, I was totally blown away by the strength of the 3D effect and the massive “sweet spot.” Fast forward to today, and I got a full-on 3D monitor on my desk, the Samsung Odyssey 3D: It finally feels like 3D screens are becoming a real thing. Regardless of the device, every setup that uses Leia’s solution combines eye-tracking cameras and lenticular lenses to create that 3D vibe. They throw in a switchable optical layer in front of the display, so you can switch between 3D and 2D. It works really well, partly because the monitor stays still—Leia uses AI to predict your movements in advance, so the effect isn’t broken.
“We kinda know where your face has been in the last few seconds leading up to now,” Fattal explains. “Then we use AI to guess where you’re gonna be in the future. Your face only makes so many movements, right? Your facial features are connected. If you turn your head, your eyes are gonna follow in a certain way, and so on.” The end result feels pretty magical. It’s like trying on a VR headset for the first time, getting the full 3D effect without glasses is a big deal, especially when you’re watching the right content.
Gaming Is Ready for 3D
You might be wondering why gaming monitors and laptops are leading the charge in bringing 3D tech to the masses, instead of TVs. Acer has been supporting 3D games for a while now, showing just how much progress can be made in that area. Lenovo is even launching a new gaming laptop, the Legion 9i, that lets you upgrade to a 3D screen as a premium feature. Modern games are all about 3D, so it totally makes sense to kick things off there. But there’s more to this whole trend.
