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If you are thinking about getting one of those new 3D flat screens, you may want to think again. Those that are currently available require special eyeglasses to achieve 3D effect. It is kind of awkward and reminds me of the first TVs (like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVN-49) with tiny screen and big water-filled lens (like a fish bowl) in front of it to magnify the picture. Future 3D displays may be as far from these first 3D panels as current flat panel TVs are from TV sets of 60 years ago.

In the University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences professor Nasser Peyghambarian and his team are developing holographic display capable to create real 3D images visible without any special devices. Principles of holography are well known in optics, and stationary holograms are nothing new, but here scientists managed to create a device which is capable to “re-write” the holographic image using specially designed polymer film. For now, they can update the picture once in a couple of seconds, but they are confident that refresh rate may be improved. There are a lot of scientific and engineering problems that have to be resolved before this technology become commercially viable, but even in its current state it is very impressive. More details can be found here: http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-holograms-science-fiction-reality-video.html.