Give Your Laptop a 3D Makeover

We've seen laptops made for glasses-free 3D, but what if you could get that same functionality without buying a whole new laptop? The 3D gurus at Spatial View Inc. have announced the 3DeeScreen, a snap-on accessory that brings this same glasses-free 3D to your existing 2D laptop.

The 3DeeScreen is a lenticular lens filter that attaches over the screen of any supported 15.6-inch laptop. The screen filter uses a magnetized mounting frame to snap onto your laptop monitor, which works in concert with the accompanying 3Dee Screen software to project 3D content without the need for special glasses. It's similar to the technology seen in the Toshiba Qosmio F755-3D290, but functions as an additional accessory instead of an integrated part of the laptop.

"Wearing 3D glasses to view content on portable devices such as laptops is not desirable for users," says Spatial View general manager Ihor Petelycky. "However, current glasses-free display technology has not provided the quality and flexibility users expect. Our goal is to provide a superior 3D viewing experience and enable existing laptops with 3D functionality at a reasonable price. With 3DeeScreen, Spatial View has achieved that goal."

The 3DeeScreen uses eye-tracking technology to adjust the auto-stereoscopic images on the fly, projecting separate right and left views to the viewer's right and left eyes. The software allows playback of 3D Blu-ray movies—assuming, of course, that your laptop is equipped with a Blu-ray drive. Further 3D content is available through 3DeeCentral, Spatial View's own one-stop shop for 3D images and video. At present, the content selection is sparse, but includes several documentaries, concerts, and short films filmed in 3D.

System requirements include an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, a discrete graphics processor by Nvidia or AMD, and a webcam that captures at least 30 frames per second at 640-by-480 resolution or better. Currently, Spatial View lists only a handful of supported laptops, from Dell and Hewlett-Packard, including the Dell Inspiron 1564. A full list is available on the product webpage.

The 3DeeScreen is available now for $129.99.