3D Sports: The Future is Now
23. Dec, 2009 
50 Comments
Eric Goodman
by Eric Goodman
When the reported $240+ million 3-D animated action epic film Avatar opened in theaters last week it exposed the world to a totally innovative technique in how three-dimensional images were captured and presented for the movie screen. Oscar Award winning director James Cameron utilized the latest in 3-D film advances combined with the use of motion-capture light technology, which has been popular in video games for years, in order to create the ultimate in movie magic.
3D is the wave of the future in Pro Sports, as well as in Hollywood.
If one considers the fact that Cameron attached tiny light sensors on actual human actors to help in artificially enhancing that image to produce a real-life three-dimensional effect, then it’s no wonder why the major professional sports world has began to attempt the same thing on live broadcasts. The NBA and NFL have already broadcast games in 3-D to select private audiences and so if Avatar can set the same standard in the way movies are viewed, then the other pro sports leagues should take note.
The NBA broadcasted both the 2007 All-Star game and the 2007 Finals series to audiences of 700 and 14,000, respectively. The NFL followed suit with the broadcast of the first half of a December, 2008 Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers game to select audiences in Boston, New York City and Los Angeles. And just this past week, the Dallas Cowboys showed replays during the second half of their game against San Diego in 3-D on their 160-by-72 foot HD screen at the new Cowboys Stadium.
According to a press release by Sony Corporation in September, 2009, the entertainment and electronic company will begin offering a 3-D viewing experience as a standard feature on its 2010 Bravia LCD line of HD televisions. With all the pieces appearing to be in place, it might not be too far off until an almost real LeBron James is dunking live in your living room or a lightning fast Jose Reyes is making you think you’ll have to sweep up your floor as dirt flies toward you from a slide into second base. The future is now.
Beam me up Scotty!
Wow.
Can hardly wait.
Nice article, thanks.
3-D Sports…. I have to wonder how expansive this will become… 3-D in home? I wonder how much the glasses will cost =P
I am interested to see how this turns out in the long run…
Good article!