2D compatibility, 2D vs 3D wars and a peace treaty

[tripletopper]

I can think this is the number one reason why 3D failed, and why other technologies of improving TV/Video succeeded.

Let's look at succcessful technologies:

Color in the 60's succeeded, mainly because someone found a way to make color content available for those who wanted it, but for those who are both "wait and see-ers" and "knuckle-draggers" (Don't call "Knuckle-draggers" an insult. I affectionately consider myself a knuckle-dragger as far as CRT TVs and classic video games are concerned. ) the shows would be perfect good shows to watch in Black and White either until the day the wait and see-ers are going to buy a TV anyway and eventually it was just cheaper just to add color in all sets than to make a separate line of B/W TVs and Color TVs.

The first entertainment format I personally lived through was Stereo TV. The broadcasters and the 4 media formats a the time (VHS, Beta, Laser Disc, Selectavision) has ways to make stereo mono-compatible> You just took any TV, and added a Multi-channel Tuning System to pick up the stereo channel. By the way that same technology gave us Spanish feeds of English shows. (Why doesn't Univision do the reverse, use their SAP to broadcast SAP in English? Then I would understand Spanish Soap Operas beyond the universal language of love and snuggling. )

Closed captioning was slipped as a hidden technology. The funny thing is that the earliest recording I have on Beta had a Closed Caption test on it, which had hidden messages saying something like "this is a test of the closed caption system." "When implemented, the deaf can read the dialogue and sound cues, while the words are hidden from hearing viewers." I didn't know about closed captions back then, but it accurately was captured during the only broadcast of "Return of the King." Maybe, once I get enough bandwidth, I should make a you tube video showing the closed caption test.

If 2 tracks aren't enough, add Dolby Pro Logic. I don't know if Broadcast and cable TV had Dolby 5.1/DTS 5.1 until the HD era, but both of those technologies were implemented as a hidden treasure too.

HDTV was a sticking point. The knuckle-draggers wanted to keep their TVs, and Antenna TV had to still be viable, so as soon as people successfully made Digtial-broadcast-to-analoig-TV the federal government finally stuck to the deadline of saying goodbye to analog TV. Heck they even subsidized 80% of the device costs to every American up to 5 TVs a piece. You could probably watch Digital broadcast TV on an analog Black and White Mono TV if you want.

Then there's 3D. The main problem with 3D is that it maybe be seen as an improvement to some, and a DETERMENT to others. There is a vicious 3D war in my family. My mom might have 3D nausea, my dad wants to collect for the 4K future, despite the fact we don't have a 4K TV yet, and my brother says he doesn't want to commit to always watching 3D ll the time, and I agree 3D/2D flexibility is a key feature. Sometimes you want to don shades, other times you don't.

At its peak in 2012, 30% of households bought a 3D TV. And probably the single 3D TV model that lead the way was the Sony Playstaiton 3D Display (not technically a TV because it has no ATSC tuner). It was the only Johnny Lunchpail 3D TV that was in range of people who wanted to add 3D but not break the bank, or as an extra 3D TV, or a college kid's first TV. Started at $500, went fdown to $180 until t sold out.

I could have sworn at that time Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (based on the opening sequence) was originally envisioned to be a 3D series.

It was not broadcast in 3D. I can think of two reasons why, and they're interrelated.

One was the broadcast standard that was chosen for 3D TV, side-by-side half. The problem with that is when watching on a 2D TV, it technically works, but has a side effect of 2 picture squished horizontally in half, and with no way for TVs to turn a 3D broadcast into 2D, Nickelodeon had to choose.

The other reason was Nickelodeon thought that they should enhance the show for 30% of the audience when it RUINS IT for the 70% who either didn't sign up, or is waiting until they play to buy a TV anyway.

If you wanted to ensure 3D compatibility, broadcasters should have made a standard of either 720p or 1080i with 30 Hz X 2 Eyes and trick older ATSC tuners into thinking it's a standard 30 HZ broadcast. With ATSC 2, since the pixels are increasing, maybe add an option of whatever resolution x 60 Hz x 2 Eyes and have an ATSC 1 Tuner think it's 60Hz x 1 Eye

It would be designed so that the second eye is hidden, UNLESS you buy something to unlock it. Just like Closed Captioning and various Surround Sound features.

DVR Content would be recorded in 60 HZ natively, but the satellite/cable boxes would have a 30 Hz X 2 Eye filter so that if there is no 3D TV, the content is recorded in 30 Hz x 2 eyes, but will display 30 Hz x 1 eye until a 3D TV is added. And you don't have to take up separate DVR room for the 2D and the 3D version.

This probably the 2D-friendliest way to broadcast in 3D. Also HD 2D/3D Blu-rays would be more encouraged, and you can even make 4K 2D/3D Discs. (Is a 4K disc technically considered a Blu-ray disc? It may be part of the same family of standards, but Blu-ray implies HD not UHD. Sort of like DVD implies Standard definition. And I've burnt a 3D DVD before, both in red-and-cyan and in in side-by-side half. Don't worry copyright enforcers: It was a wedding I was best man at, filmed with my Nintendo 3DS.)

The other issue is hardware to play TV.

What if it were as simple as adding an extra box connected to the TV, like the way Dolby/DTS surround is added to a TV. The idea behind the Sound industry is you pick the TV, then add sound. (Personally, I use Turtle Beach headsets and an Xbox One S. Strangely only video game consoles can convert DTS to Dolby. My upstairs has headsets that are silent on DTS. Where are the dual-standard (tri-standard if you count LPCM 7.1 used in Wii U and Switch) headphones that work regardless of content? I was crazy enough to try headphones, and it worked because our main media room is an asymmetric acoustical nightmare so communal speakers won't work.)

The problem with 3D TV is that companies thought they were losing money when the Playstation 3D Display was the number one TV and thought if they made 3D TV EXCLUSIVELY on better TVs, they'd make even more money. So TVs with 3D got bigger and more exclusive. The budget conscious person had no options, and enough High-falooters went one step down, just to avoid 3d to give the expensive models a "3D Stink".

What if you can buy as cheap or expensive TV, a 720p/1080i or 4K, 24 bit color or 36 bit color, 10 inches or 100 inches, and any of them can have the 3D option added separately, kind of like a surround stereo system?

The technology already exists. Case in point the Sega Master System Sega Scope 3D. Sure it only worked internally within selected SMS games, but the point was that it would work on ANY TV at the time. You didn't have to buy any particular brand or size or even input style of TV. Worked with antenna RF and Composite.

The game just alternated frames and used a 240p x 15Hz x 2 eye approach. Of course if you're prone to epilepsy, walking into a room and staring at the TV without the glasses looks like that Wang Chung video.

The glasses just shuttered when plugged into the system with 3.5mm cables. Of course nowadays, we'd use some sort of radio signal to sync up the glasses, and to allow for multiple glasses at once. But this external box would pick up the extra frame in encoded broadcasts, convert frame-packed and any other format of 3D videos into alternating frames. The program is open source at Bino3d.org and I use it on my 10 year old Macintosh, so licensing should be easy.

This would solve all the problems with the 3D media industry. TV channels can proudly advertise "In 3D. 2D compatible" 2D/3D combo discs would be more acceptable. Maybe 4K discs would be 2D/3D combo, and we'd have the best of both worlds. Also if your TV works fine, for up to $200 you convert an existing 2D TV into a 3D TV. And you feel no pressure to update. And when you buy a TV, buy any TV you want, and just add depth. Plus Premium TVs will sell better without that "3D Stink", unless you WANT that 3D Stink. Plus there'd be more affordable ways make make more TVs 3D.

Finally a Full Color/ Red-and-cyan / 2D selector mode could be possible on these devices. Red-and-cyan is the cheap way to communally watch it. 2d mode is if you don't want any glasses. Also you can sell cheap versions with just Red-and-cyan. Finally, 2D/3D (both HD and 4K) combo discs and 2d-compatible 3D standards are the cheapest way to not ruin TV for those 2D warriors.

P.S. Which the symbol had red and cyan lenses as a "symbol" for a 3D fan. Everyone knows what red and cyan glasses mean. Even if that technology is rendered obsolete.