Coming soon... 3D TV

TV, computer games and even photographs could soon be viewed in 3D - and nobody will have to wear green and red glasses.

It has been made possible by a breakthrough in using liquid crystal displays like those found computer monitors and watches. Scientists were able to transform the LCDs into 3D screens by putting one over another.

The technique has still to be refined to overcome key drawbacks.

Viewers must sit within an inch or so of the ideal position to be able to see an image clearly. That also means only one person at a time can see the screen.

The technology involves a device called a 'parallax barrier', which separates the LCDs into a series of vertical and opaque stripes.

The barrier can block out images from being shown to the left eye and show them only to the right eye and vice-versa.

The effect can be reversed just by turning off the barrier, which means

the viewer will have a choice of whether to view images in the traditional way or in 3D.

And it is not just TV viewers who are set to benefit, reports New Scientist magazine.

The technique, developed in Oxford by Japanese giant Sharp, can also be used to transform images on mobile phones, computer games and even holiday snaps.

It has already proved popular in Japan, where mobile phones that take photos can have their images converted into 3D.