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Slot machines in 3D?

No glasses

Are Philips' 3D multiview displays going to end up in Vegas?

Casino mogul Steve Wynn - the man behind luxurious casinos such as The Mirage, Bellagio and Treasure Island - has apparently expressed an interest in using the Dutch company's 3D colour displays in slot machines, all the better for his customers to watch their money disappear, presumably.

The 3D multiview lenticular display technology, showcased earlier this year at the SID International Symposium 2005, can be used without special glasses. It consists of an array of transparent glasses, fixated on a standard LCD panel. The principle is akin to 3D greeting cards, where the lenses run vertically top to bottom.

There are a couple of drawbacks, including the rather limited viewing angle - you have to face the screen directly to see real depth. Also, complex display signal processing is needed to convert video footage in 'real time' to 3D. That's not easy, Philips admitted this week during its Summer Technology Press Event in its home town of Eindhoven. All images shown on the display are currently computer generated. For this reason, 3D TV won't enter the home any time soon. However, Philips says user interfaces, and possibly photographs, can benefit from the technology.

Philips believes 3D displays will push the boundaries of games, enabling the most immersive experience possible. The first multiview 3D displays will already be available this autumn.

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