Tech Stream
Tech Stream 050 – 3DTV health concerns and the NZ Web Harvest
30 April 2010
Listen and download: MP3
The headline of a story on 3D colour televisions in Australia, published in Radio Television & Hobbies, 1958. Image from twitter, posted by @iBleeter.
In the Tech Stream this week we take a look at the health concerns associated with new 3D televisions which have just gone on sale in Australia. We’ll also find out why websites are being harvested in New Zealand; discuss whether regulation is the answer to stamping out racism online; and Hex from Good Game joins us for a review of the role-playing adventure game Torchlight. Take the plunge with the MP3 link above or read on for more information.
We start with the news of the week, and then hear why the National Library of New Zealand is taking a snapshot of that country’s internet this month. Their web manager Courtney Johnston explains that its all part of an ongoing effor to preserve their social and cultural history. The New Zealand Web Harvest 2010 takes place from May 12th to 25th.
Bronwyn Herbert then has a report looking at whether regulation is needed to reduce the amount of racist content online. This story first aired in our AM program. A full transcript and list of guests can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2884336.htm
It seems German scientists have created a three dimensional invisibility cloak. The researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have hidden a bump on a gold plate using “metamaterials”. Jennifer Macey reports that this metamaterial could be used to cloak an object. This story first aired on our program The World Today and more details are available on ABC News Online.
We then turn our attention to 3D televisions which a range of manufacturers are starting to introduce into the market. Some of these, however,carry health warnings about dizziness, convulsions and disorientation caused by their use. Kerrin Binnie’s reports on these concern around 3D TVs, and a full transcript of the story is also available on ABC News Online. In February Mark Pesce wrote about the health issues associated with use of 3D TVs and the lack of thorough testing from manufacturers in this story on ABC The Drum- Unleashed.
Sydney based technology writer and professional blogger Neerav Bhatt has had a play with a couple of TVs featuring a 3D function. He tell us that their high price tag (both for the sets themselves and the glasses) and a lack of 3D content make them an unattractive prospect, never mind any health risks associated with their prolonged use.
I mentioned in our chat that the State of Origin Rugby could be broadcast in 3D in Sydney and you can read more about that here. Neerav does regular technology reviews on his blog: http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/
Finally we catch up with Hex – Stephanie Bendixsen – from ABC TV’s Good Game program, for a review of the PC/Mac game Torchlight, which is produced by Runic Games.
Early Grayce
"...Neerav Bhatt somewhat misguided. 3DTV has not been produced in response to 3D movies being produced but has been evolving over many years and is now possible due to high refresh rate screens, and lcd's for the glasses and also high density power cells to power them. Another thing, Video games are a natural medium because it is easy to render a second view angle and makes all 3d rendered games compatable with 3D technology making almost all PS3 games 3d compatable and the same applies to X-Box 360 after a software update. The one real issue I see is that Pupil distance sits in a range of about a 2cm difference and this will make people feel strange in the same way they do when wearing in a new pair of spectacles. The good thing with movies is that most BlueRay players have upgradeable firmware so a quick download will solve the problem. The film catalog will increase quickly since the hardware for making 3D movies is cheap and easy to use...."
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