[科技前沿]索尼计划明年在全球推出3D电视

Sony set to launch era of 3D TVs next year

3D technology looks set to hit the home consumer market next year, with Sony today announcing plans to sell 3D televisions globally by the end of 2010.

Sony's decision to throw its weight behind the technology will be an important boost for the 3D industry, which has so far focused mainly on cinemas. British Sky Broadcasting has said it would introduce a 3D satellite channel in the UK next year, but it had been unclear whether there would be equipment available to view it on.

Speaking at the IFA technology trade show in Berlin, Sir Howard Stringer, Sony chief executive, will announce plans not only to sell 3D Bravia television sets, but to make Sony's Vaio laptop computers, PlayStation3 games consoles and Blu-Ray disc players compatible with the technology.

Mr Stringer is expected to tell the audience: “Today, 3D is clearly on its way to the mass market through technology, distribution and content.

“As with high definition a few years back, there are a variety of issues yet to be addressed. But the 3D train is on the track, and we at Sony are ready to drive it home.”

The consumer electronics industry has yet to agree on a single 3D standard, posing the risk of a format war akin to that between VHS and Betamax or the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD standards.

There are several types of 3D technology. Sony has opted for “active shutter” technology, using electronic glasses containing tiny shutters that open and close rapidly in synch with the television image to create a 3D impression.

索尼(Sony)今日将宣布，计划在2010年底之前面向全球推出3D电视。这使得3D有望在明年进入家庭消费市场。

索尼决定全力支持3D技术，将对迄今主要应用于电影业的3D行业产生重要的推动作用。英国天空广播公司(Sky Broadcasting)已表示，明年将在英国推出一个3D卫视频道，但尚不清楚届时是否有相应电视机来收看。

在德国柏林国际电子消费品展览会(IFA)上发表演讲时，索尼公司首席执行官霍华德·斯丁格爵士(Howard Stringer)不仅将宣布推出3D Bravia电视机的计划，还将宣布，该公司将使其Vaio笔记本电脑、PlayStation3游戏机和蓝光影碟机与3D技术兼容。

预计斯丁格将告诉听众：“如今，3D显然正通过技术、分销和内容走向大众市场。”

“与几年前推出高清技术时一样，3D的应用也有许多问题需要解决。但3D列车已经驶入轨道，我们索尼已做好准备，将其开进千家万户。”

消费电子产业尚未就统一的3D技术标准达成共识，因此，今后可能出现类似VHS与Betamax的录像机标准、或蓝光与HD-DVD标准那样的格式之争。

3D技术有好几种类型。索尼公司选择的是“主动快门”技术(active shutter)，即利用电子玻璃镜片中微小快门与电视图像的同步快速开合，创造出3D效果。