ITRI Invents Multi-Viewer Auto-Stereoscopic Display Technology

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has developed technology that allows auto-stereoscopic display for multiple viewing, sources at the Hsinchu-based institute announced Thursday.

Stereoscopic display is a method that enables viewers to see stereoscopic images; however, such a display requires the viewer to wear special goggles or glasses to see the images properly. Auto-stereoscopic displays create a stereoscopic effect that the viewer can perceive without glasses, but the existing technology allows only one person to see the image at a time.

The ITRI researchers who developed the technology said the conventional auto-stereoscopic display devices have a limited viewable angle of 5 degrees, which limits the total viewership. "The new technology widens the viewable angle up to 60 degrees, allowing multiple individuals to view the images simultaneously," they said.

The researchers estimated that a commercial multi-person auto-stereoscopic display will cost about NT$60,000 (US$1,900) to NT$80,000 for a 42-inch TV screen, while an auto-stereoscopic set of the same screen size usually costs up to NT$139,566 on the European market.

The research group said that a couple of private companies have already contacted the ITRI to discuss cooperation in technology transfer, and that commercial versions will enter the market in two to three years.

By Zep Hu, Taiwan Headlines