Apple’s 3D Patent May Be the Push 3D Needs for Mainstream Status, Says In-Stat
(Phil Lelyveld comment: the patent describes enabling a large group to watch 3D without glasses by recognizing where each person is and sending them an individualized 3D experience. Theoretically it sounds great, but actually creating a technology that directs a 3D image to a large number of individuals with require extremely fast processing power and a really bright image so the image lingers on the viewer's eyes while the other people get their 3D images. If you are sending 3D images to 10 people, it probably means that each person is seeing a blank screen while each of the other nine get their image!)
Apple is entering into the 3D fray. On December 2, Apple was granted a patent on a 3D projection system that will allow multiple users to experience 3D content at different viewing angles without the need for special glasses.
...The patent suggests that, by detecting the general location of each user in the viewing area and adjusting accordingly, multiple images can be projected to different points on a special reflective screen, allowing multiple users to simultaneously view the 3D image from different points in the room without the need for glasses.
Full story here: http://www.mobiletechnews.com/info/2010/12/07/131436.html