As I've discussed before, 3D is a technology that has been bouncing back and forth in popularity since the 50s. However, it wasn't until fairly recently that the technology began to evolve. What started off as dual colored glasses (red/ cyan), it evolved into polarized lenses (image is adjusted to the glasses) and active shutter glasses (visibility of an image is alternated between eyes at 60 frames per second for each eye), which kept the original image in tact. Now, with the 3DS, Nintendo's newest handheld, the viewer can now see 3D images without glasses.
The Nintendo 3DS utilizes a technology that is still being worked on called auto-stereoscopy, which is a source of passively viewed 3D that is generated on actively. Two screens are used to generate the image. The reason the eye is able to discern them is due to something called a "parallax barrier," which helps to merge the images by blocking the the opposing screens from the eyes, allowing each eye to perceive the images differently.
This does two things in comparison to traditional projected 3D image. This not only widens the image, showing more (think of is as 16:9 widescreen vs. a Pan and Scan 4:3 screen ratio), but it also enhances the overall definition and resolution of the image, making high resolution and clearer. There is, however, a drawback with this technology. Due to the way screen and barrier are displayed, the viewing angle is EXTREMELY limited. Unlike more traditional 3D, which enables you to see 3D images at almost any angle you view it at, One has to look at the image straight on to get the full 3D effect. Although one can alter the image vertically without affecting it, if one alters the image horizontally, it completely ruins the effect (making the images uneven or visibly separated). The second issue is that it's also more difficult to view the image over longer periods of time in comparison to watching a 3D image with glasses. While one is able to watch an entire movie with glasses, one can begin to suffer eyestrain at around 30 minutes on average with auto-stereoscopic viewings.
While the viewing seems considerably more organic with auto-stereoscopic viewing, the stress and narrower viewing angles seem to make less more enjoyable of an experience in comparison of the use of glasses, as it's easier on the eyes in the long run. Granted, it is still a technology that is still early in development. In terms of experimentation, it is fascinating technology. No doubt that as time progresses, the technology will evolve and become better, creating less strain and a better viewing angle for viewers.
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