Japanese company Sanwa has recently announced that its new 400-3DGS001 3D glasses are compatible with multiple brands of 3D televisions, such as Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba. While the glasses aren't truly "universal" they are a step in the right direction, reminding us that a day may come when we have multiple 3DTVs in our homes.
That day is probably a long way off, but we're glad that at least someone is planning ahead!Sanwa's glasses are equipped with a "television maker select button," which when pressed will try to recognize what kind of television you are using, based on the TV's infrared signal. They will then automatically synchronize so that you can view in 3D. The settings are then maintained until you sync with another manufacturer's television, at which point you'd need to re-detect in order to switch back. We contacted Sanwa for more details about how this works, but have yet to hear back.
Included with these glasses is a USB cable that you can connect to a PC when you need to recharge. There's also a pouch for storage and a cloth wipe for cleaning, to make sure that the glasses stay in good condition.
The glasses are relatively lightweight at 55g (or a little under two ounces), and can be worn over top of regular glasses if need be. They also have three sizes of nose-piece attachments that you can use to help create a more comfortable fit. The glasses can be purchased in Japan for 7800 yen, or about US$94. More specs on the 400-3DGS001 can be found below.
While there might not be a need just yet for a "universal" pair of 3D glasses, it could be something we need to consider down the road, much like having a universal remote for multiple televisions. On the other hand, however, one has to wonder how long it will take for an acceptable and affordable glasses-less 3D system to be developed. Is it possible that by the time we have multiple 3D-capable TVs in the home, glasses might be a thing of the past?
Source: gizmag