Fujitsu will soon launch an all-in-one computer that can capture and display video images with the illusion of 3D.
The PC was on show on Tuesday at the company’s Fujitsu Forum event in Tokyo, but few technical details of the machine were available. The company demonstrated the 3D capabilities of the computer, most of which was covered by a case to prevent too much being seen before its official launch.
The PC display is 3D-capable and requires the user to wear a pair of passive glasses to see an image with the perception of depth. Passive glasses are those with polarized lenses that appear dark or grey in color. They don’t require batteries or flicker in sync with the screen like more complex models used with some 3D televisions.
In a demonstration on Tuesday one PC was showing a 3D video of golf while a second PC was showing a live image that was being captured by the computer. The video was captured by dual cameras mounted above the main display. Two cameras are needed to capture the depth that gives an image the illusion of being in three dimensions.
Fujitsu will supply software that allows two users with the same systems to be able to conduct 3D video chats via Windows Live Messenger.
In viewing tests of the two screens, the golf video looked better than that captured by the PC. The image from the camera appeared to show depth for close-by objects but those further away — the demonstration was taking place in a large hall — were blurred and confused the picture. The same problems might not appear if the PC was used at home, where room sizes are smaller and all objects are typically much closer to the camera.
It will be the flagship model in the company’s upcoming refresh of its PC line-up in Japan. Further details were not immediately available.
Martyn Williams is in Tokyo and can be reached by e-mail at martyn_williams@idg.com and on Twitter @martyn_williams