Now, cellphones with 3D screens

Simulating 3D has been something of a Holy Grail for cinema and TV. But that is set to change with mobile devices, which are expected to come with simpler and cheaper 3D technology.

Rudimentary 3D technologies have been around practically since the dawn of filmmaking.

The first ever attempt came in 1890, when the British film pioneer William Friese-Greene invented a process in which two films were projected side by side on screen, and the viewer looked through a stereoscope to converge the two images.

We've come a long way since this bulky and impractical solution, yet 3D film and TV is still some way from becoming an everyday reality, partly due to cost. But that looks set to change, and mobile devices - with simpler and hence cheaper 3D technology - could well lead the charge. TOI