Zecotek Photonics Inc. (ZMS – TSX Venture),a developer of leading-edge photonics technologies for medical, industrial and scientific markets, today renewed the call for consumer protection and industry standards for 3D viewing equipment.  The Company first called for industry standards in a news release on March 25, 2010 to address the growing concerns over safety in 3D viewing.  Nintendo Ltd. recently issued a cautionary warning regarding its new handheld 3DS which may harm the eyes of children less than six years of age.  It fears that 3D content “delivers 3D images with different left and right images, and which have a potential impact on the growth of children’s eyes.” Zecotek fully supports these concerns.

“We have developed a 3D auto-stereoscopic display which does not require viewers to wear glasses, and because the 3D effect is produced using the widest possible number of views it provides a much more natural viewing experience than those systems requiring glasses,” said Dr. A.F. Zerrouk, Chairman, President, and CEO of Zecotek Photonics Inc. “The Zecotek 3D display system has an effective viewing angle of up to 50 degrees with 90 concurrent perspectives allowing for multiple views at the same time.  Due to the large number of perspectives our 3D system has the important feature of constant motion parallax within the viewing angle. Motion parallax eliminates the sense of imbalance and dizziness during normal observation which can occur with polarized and shutter glasses used with other commercial systems due to the limited number of views.  We are calling those in the 3D industry to develop standards and guidance for 3D systems which will be used by the consumer, particularly children, for long viewing periods.”  

Zecotek’s unique, patented 3D display system should not be confused or identified with stereoscopic 3D televisions which require viewers to wear special glasses.  Specialists report that individuals may feel discomfort and dizziness during the first 30 minutes after viewing a 3D film using polarized and shutter glasses as muscles in the eye become weak and color response decreases. More recent concerns are on the possible long term impact on children.

About Zecotek’s Real-Time 3D Display System

Zecotek’s 3D Display System is based on a patented array of matched, dynamic lenticular lenses, coupled with high speed image projection.  The system operates by forming a very large number of perspective views which, together with its wide viewing angle, allows multiple viewers to each have their own unique perspective. This combination of views, viewing angle and the 3D display’s high resolution offer a viewing experience closest to the visual perception of real objects.

The key feature of Zecotek’s Real-Time 3D Display System is that it does not require glasses, eye tracking or other extraneous or viewer dependent devices.  Other unique features of the 3D Display System include both constant motion parallax and the occlusion effect within the viewing angle. Motion parallax is the apparent difference in the direction of movement or speed produced when the subject moves relative to his environment. The occlusion effect is the blocking of one object by another opaque (non-transparent) object located in front of it but where the hidden object can still be seen if viewed from a different angle, for example, in side view. The combination of motion parallax and the occlusion effect eliminate the sense of imbalance and dizziness which can occur in particular with polarized and shutter-type glasses and which are contributing to concerns over health and safety of 3D viewing.

Zecotek’s 3D display technology is scalable and can be applied to both small 3D display screens for use in the transportation, personal computing and gaming industries as well as large 3D display screens for industrial, advertisement, medical and home entertainment markets.  While current flat screen technologies are inadequate for time sequenced 3D imaging (and why all LED panel systems require glasses), Zecotek’s 3D Display System can be adapted to accommodate emerging next-generation LED’s and control systems, which will allow for flat, thin panel 3D displays. As an interim step, and to meet current demands for a viable 3D auto-stereoscopic glasses free display, the Company is planning to introduce a desk-top DLP-based monitor specifically aimed at scientific, engineering, military and security applications where 3D imaging provides for enhanced situation and process analysis, fast decision making, and problem-solving.