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Every year in Las Vegas the CES show is held, which is arguably one of the greatest shows involving everything to do with gadgets in the world. It is a platform many of the biggest names in technology used to launch some of their latest products.

Unlike 2011, the show this year did not have one dominant technology taking all of the visitors interests. Last year this was 3D TV but there are several trends that were seen at this show which highlight where technology is going to be going in the near future.

One of the technologies that did stand out above the others were OLED TVs. This type of television uses a technology that is self illuminating so unlike typical television sets there is no need for a backlight. This means that the level of black experienced on the screen is incredibly good and the contrast these televisions are capable of delivering is outstanding. At the other side of the scale colours are very bright and the visual impact of television displayed on the screen is incredible.

Previously, the screens were very small but at the show both Samsung and LG showed off 55inch models. The LG device is definitely the more attractive of the two and it is very slim being only four mm thick. It was so impressive in fact, that it won the Best of Show award given by CNET.

This TV is due to be released in the second six months of this year. That is not to say the Samsung device is not impressive, but at twice the thickness the LG model definitely stole the show.

New televisions by Samsung were also shown to utilise different technologies such as remote controls with microphones and video cameras mounted on televisions. The camera on the television allows the viewer to change the channel and other settings by using gestures; the remote control is also capable of recognising voice to execute commands.

LG released a remote control last year and they have improved this device with the introduction of a microphone as well as a scroll wheel. The company have also introduced a camera that will allow you to play games as well as control the television with gestures.

If the show is anything to go by, social media is going to be a big player in televisions over the next year. Televisions by Panasonic, Sony, LG, and Samsung were all showing improved ways of accessing Twitter and Facebook through their televisions. There was also technology introduced that allows people to message each other while they watch television.

Ultrabooks seem to be another technology that is going to be a big deal over the next year. These are powerful computers that are very lightweight and thin, however many of the device at the show did not look much different from the notebooks that are currently on the market and many people were unimpressed by the lack of change.

There were some exciting models on show however, many of which were capable of turning into tablets. Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga has a 360 degree screen which twists round to turn the device into a tablet. It is only 17 millimetres thick and is a very exciting piece of technology. LG also showcased a device that is a very impressive 14.7 millimetres thick.

The L323CD11’s foray into the world of AV world brazen, but it is unlikely to be less popular for it. With it retailing at only £379 it is, quite simply, the cheapest 3D television currently available in the UK. The fact that a 32iun 3D capable TV can sell for so little essentially makes 3D take that step from luxury to commodity, and the fact is comes complete with 10 free pairs of 3D glasses makes it even more exceptional.

The extreme generosity surrounding these glasses is only possible due to the  L323CD11 using the passive on-screen filter from LG to deliver the 3D thrills. If this was an active 3D television 10 pairs of suitable glasses would set you back between £600-£1000. to put it bluntly, the Logik  L323CD11 is, in some ways, the markets most blatant example as yet of the financial and multiple viewing advantages of passive 3D.

What it does to to enhance the reputation of passive 3D remains to be seen, especially on the picture quality front. Aesthetically, the  L323CD11 looks like a cheaper priced television. By todays standards, the bezel is unusually wide, and its rear end sticks out a country mile, the classic indication that TV is using the old school CCFL lighting as opposed to the LED lighting that is so much preferred by many of today’s television manufacturers.

The connections on the  L323CD11 are, however, a lot better than you might initially expect. There are 3 HDMI ports, which are capable of receiving 3D signals from such sources as a Sky HD box or a blu-ray. There is also a D-Sub PC port that allows the screen to also be used as a monitor for a computer, and a USB port that is capable of playing videos and music and view photo files.

It isn’t all wine and roses on the connections front however, as the L323CD11 is lacking an Ethernet port, and as these are a mandatory accompaniment for Freeview HD tuners, there is no Freeview built into this TV. In all fairness, a Freeview HD tuner would be unusual in an ordinary 32in TV that cost less than £400, but it feels strange that a TV with cutting edge technology like 3D playback is lacking a Freeview tuner.

As there is no integrated Wi-Fi or LAN, this budget Logik set has no chance of supporting online Smart TV or even streaming files from a PC. In reality, however, expecting such features in such a cheaply priced TV isn’t remotely realistic when the TV has already set a new value standard thanks to it charging peanuts for passive 3D.

The lack of features on the L323CD11 outside of the passive 3D continues with the strikingly simplistic on-screen menus, and really only carry bog standard basics that you would find on any TV, and getting the remote to talk to the set is an absolute nightmare, so a more complex menu simply isn’t viable. This aside, the L323CD11 is worth buying for the oene thing it has been designed for; passive 3D viewing at a very low price.

Watching films, live gigs and documentaries in 3D at the cinema is a form of entertainment enjoyed by millions internationally. Three dimensional presentation immerses the viewer in the action on screen, and it is this distinctive ability to make viewing an all-encompassing experience rather than another form of non-interactive entertainment that is making 3D viewing the increasingly preferred option for film fans worldwide.

Many of the biggest new films being shot and recorded using IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and other 3D recording formats, rather than the traditional 2D methods of recording. Film producers and top directors including Steven Spielberg and James Cameron are embracing the stunning visual possibilities of the latest 3D technology, and are designing their film projects from scratch with 3D viewing in mind.
This public interest has led manufacturers to develop the means of bringing some of the magic of 3D cinema into the home, in the form of 3D televisions. 3D TV sets have been introduced by most of the industry’s home entertainment pioneers, so that you can now purchase Samsung 3D TVs, Sony 3D TVs and Panasonic 3D TVs to use in your own home.

Thanks to the latest innovations in 3D technology, viewers may soon have the option to not wear 3D glasses at all to see the images in a 3D recording. 3D enthusiasts are still able to purchase 3D televisions which require the use of such glasses to view recordings, but before long there will be the option to purchase 3D TVs with the ability to use the light source to split the images directly into the viewer’s eyes.

This innovation, known as Autostereoscopic 3D, renders the necessity for filtering glasses obsolete. This can truly bring 3D entertainment into a domestic environment and allow viewers to enjoy a thoroughly interactive experience without a drastic change in how television is watched at home.

The continued expansion of 3D technology has taken a number of unexpected twists and turns in the brief time it’s existed so far, and there are sure to be new technologies emerging into the market in the coming years that would currently seem like pure science fiction.

An Advertising Feature

We had analogue versus digital, standard definition (SD) versus high definition (HD) but the format wars are about to get serious as TV channels prepare for yet another great move: 3D TV (with and without glasses).

3D TV has been an aspiration for TV technicians and enthusiasts, since the popularity of futuristic programs and films in the 70s. The launch of such products as the LG 3DTV ‘LG Cinema 3D’, leaves no doubt that the time has finally come for the distant 3D dream to become a reality, and whats more a reality to be enjoyed from the comfort of our very own living rooms. Although there already are a few 3DTV models available in the market, LG Cinema 3D TV is considered a pioneering model as, apart from a top-quality 3D image it also allows viewers to enjoy exactly the same picture quality no matter the angle. This means that if you have a living room full of friends you no longer need to re-arrange the sofas to ensure they can all see the movie in 3D.

Which manufacturer and which broadcaster will win the 3D race is yet unknown, as the technology is still developing.

In 2006, France Telecom broadcasted a program in 3D capitalizing on fibre-optic technology. Pilot 3D programs are being produced using different formats and technologies as we speak in the USA and Europe. Which of these formats will prevail is still ambiguous and there is always the chance that 3DTV will not take off at all.

What is definitely unquestionable is that 3D technology is still quite expensive for both broadcasters and customers. Glass-free 3D Television sets are currently double the price of those which require glasses which accounts for the popularity of models such as LG Cinema 3D, which are comparatively economical.

As far as Broadcasters are concerned SKY is confident that 3D technology will take the world by storm and Brian Lenz, Product Design director for SKY is certain that it is not long before manufacturers decide on the most effective format for international use.

A drawback for manufacturers is that in fact 3D transmission currently requires more frequencies, something that, of course, costs more too. The European Union is currently investing on large research projects aiming to solve the last technological barriers obstructing the popularization of 3DTV.

Considering however that the children of today will soon become the consumers of tomorrow, there is an anxious expectation for 3D TV. Kids already familiar with films like UP, Avatar, Toy Story III and Alice in Wonderland, will no longer remain content with regular HD TV and manufacturers are all hoping to gain from this emerging client-base.

I guess it’s happened again. I can remember vividly the moment a few years ago when I looked at my tired old telly and stopped loving it the way I used to. Why? Well, I’m afraid my head had been turned by the slim, smooth lines of LCD TV and I’d fallen fast and fallen hard. After that there was no going back.

Recently I went through the whole process again, only this time the object of my affections was 3D television. I must admit I’d never been that bothered about 3D. I’m old enough to remember the cinema craze from the 1980s, when you stuck on a pair of paper glasses with flimsy red and green lenses and pretended you were having a great time when it fact you felt slightly sick and very underwhelmed.

Recently 3D films have made a big comeback but my idea of a fun day at the movies has never really been about seeing cartoon chickens leaping through the air towards me. Call me old fashioned. So I was genuinely shocked when I found out just how amazing 3D television could be. My brother in law was the first person I knew who got one, and when he couldn’t stop chattering about it his excitement eventually convinced me to buy 3D TV. It’s been brilliant. It’s especially great for watching sport and movies, I find, because you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. Images literally jump out of the screen into your living room. It’s incredibly cool – even the glasses!

An advertising feature for Dixons