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Toshiba's glasses-free 3D laptop

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By Kevin Pocock

Posted on 15 Feb 2011 at 15:21

Toshiba has unveiled a 3D laptop that doesn't require the user to wear special glasses.

The 'World's First Glasses-Free 3D Laptop' was unveiled at a showcase of the company's upcoming releases, although it's not ready for inclusion in Toshiba's 2011 line-up and may be up to a year away from appearing on the market. (Update: As readers have commented below, Sharp and others have launched glasses-free laptops before, based on different technology.)

The laptop uses a webcam to track the user's face and eyes, with the 3D effect created by liquid crystal lenticulars on the 15in screen. It provided a surprisingly pleasing viewing experience in our brief tests.

The effect works at an approximate maximum distance of 140cm, and is limited to a 20-degree cone of vision, within which you can shift without losing 3D vision. Slip outside the sweet spot, however, and you'll be returned to a regular 2D experience.

Also somewhat impressive, but slightly disorientating and headache-inducing, is the ability to run 3D content on a regular 2D desktop.

Toshiba claims the technology will find a variety of home entertainment and business uses, including virtual 3D tours of houses in estate agents' windows.

The full implementation won't arrive in Toshiba products until the beginning of next year. But when it does arrive in a saleable form, and perhaps with infrared sensors included, it could deal a deft blow to devices such as the Sony VAIO VPCF21Z1E, which remain dependent on the awkward specs.

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User comments

Unless you use laptop to view movies 'alone', I do not see the need for 3D laptop. By 'alone' I meant you cannot share it with friends because of viewing angle and screen size.

Why would one want to view documents in 3D just to experience 'slight' disorientation?

Zot

By MZaki on 16 Feb 2011

I can't see any 3D effects in the screenshot.

By Lestibournes on 16 Feb 2011

The world's first glasses-free 3D laptop

I saw a glasses-free 3D laptop at the 13th annual computer fair in San Francisco, and again at the CES in Vegas, years ago.

So that statement is not true

By 3DMaster on 16 Feb 2011

Re: Outrageous Claim.

If You have a look at both the Sharp Actius RD3D, and the Sharp Actius AL3DU, You'll notice that these Laptops were out Years ago, and both had the same Parallax Screen as this Laptop.

They weren't aimed at Consumers, (and We might speculate that this Laptop isn't either, on account of having no Idea of what the Price might be,) they didn't have the Web-Cam Tracker, (which I feel is very innovative,) but You didn't need any 3D. Glasses.

I suggest that You correct this outrageous claim, to maintain the high standard, which I have come to expect from PC PRO, after reading this publication for so long.

By In3D_LTD on 16 Feb 2011

Yeah, I second that, the outrageous title should be changed from "The world's first glasses-free 3D laptop" to "The world's first glasses-free 3D laptop that might actually work".

According to PC Pro's own review of Sharp Actius RD3D, you have to be around two feet directly in front of the screen to get the 3D, and you only have a few inches of movement in any plane before the 3D effect fails.

By Lomskij on 16 Feb 2011

Headline amended

Thanks for the comments. We've amended the headline and updated the story to reflect the previous launches.

Barry Collins
Deputy Editor

By Barry_Collins on 16 Feb 2011

umm...

um... i'm pretty sure the purpose of tracking a person isn't so that the person can move around and do sports while watching a 3d screen and maintain 3d viewing ability. i'm pretty sure the webcam is just there so the person doens't have to keep their face in a fixed position all that time..

this idea seems pretty innovative. i'll have to try the laptop when it comes out.

By wushum on 16 Feb 2011

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