Amongst a range of topics, the forthcoming Blu-ray Disc Academy 3D conference in Hamburg – organised by DVD Intelligence – will feature developments in glasses-free 3D television with the participation of Dimenco, considered one of the leading auto-stereoscopic technology companies in the world. Dimenco was founded by former Philips 3D Solutions executives. CEO Maarten Tobias will be speaking and demonstrate the company’s technology.

Pushing the envelope on the 3D glasses-free front is Dr Amar Aggoun, a Reader in Information and Communication Technologies at Brunel University in the UK. He is leading a number of research projects on 3D imaging technologies and is currently the principal coordinator of the EU-funded project “3D Live Immerse Video-Audio Interactive Multimedia” (3D VIVANT), a project attempting to make advances in the 3D holoscopic imaging technology for capture, representation, manipulation and display of 3D content.

Other conference contributors include David Mercer, VP and Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics consultancy where he heads the global digital consumer research team. Over 20 years of analysis and consulting within the consumer technology and media industries, he has worked with many leading global players across the value chain. He will make sense of forecasting a 3D market just taking off and what to look for.

Bernard Mendiburu, Vice President Innovation with Volfoni, that recently unveiled a new generation of “intelligence” 3D glasses, based on an hybrid active/passive technology that allows user to view 3D content on any platform. Mendiburu’s book 3D Movie Making, Stereoscopic Digital Cinema from Script to Screen, is a reference on digital 3D production.

Bill Foster, Senior Technology Consultant with Futuresource, author of a recent in-depth analysis of the 3D technologies and market, will help sort out the increasingly complicated field of passive v. active 3D, half HD v full HD, standardised v. incompatible 3D home entertainment technologies. Bill is tracking new technologies and their commercial viability.

The stereoscopic illusion plays tricks on the eyes that cause discomfort, headaches and may lead to long-term damage, especially in children. “Do not watch S3D while pregnant, drunk or going downstairs,” Samsung warns its customers. Can 3D TV with glasses really be a danger to health? Bob Auger, President of Newmérique, will look at the evidence so far and sets out to find some psycho-visual answers.

With a view to assisting independent publishers and producers who are considering tipping a toe in 3D waters, Andy Evans, MD of The Pavement, will share his experience of bringing his first 3D title Lovers Guide to the market.

Stewart Dickison, Head of Authoring and Post-production at Sony DADC, has 15 years of operations and management experience across the media and entertainment sector. Stuart has been instrumental in positioning the company as a dominant player in the European 3D Blu-ray sector. He will spell out the various stages and 3D production planning implications.

Adam Lesh, CTO of Testronic Labs, has been involved with process improvement for both DVD and Blu-ray QC, developing procedures for BD-Live, Digital Copy and now 3D, for a variety of studio clients. Lesh will draw lessons after subjecting to date 75 3D Blu-ray titles (and 5,500 BDs) to Q&A.

For his part, Chris Neely, VP Product Management for Rovi’s Professional Products (the role he held at Sonic prior to Rovi’s acquisition this year), will flesh out the implications of transitioning from Blu-ray to 3D Blu-ray authoring tools. Prior to his current role, Chris was VP of Sonic’s European Operations.

Andrew Elia, co-founder and CTO of Crossplatform, a leader in Augmented Reality, will show what AR is and what it can offer to the 3D sector. Elia is a veteran of the new media and interactive industry, responsible for developing some of the earliest and most ground-breaking internet-based projects.

These contributors are joining Michael Zink, VP Entertainment Technology Strategy at Technicolor, Vicky Betihavas, co-founder of pioneering 3D production house Nineteen Fifteen, Peter van Hooke, a 3D documentary maker pushing the boundaries, and Dr Sebastian Knorr, co-founder of imcube labs, inventor of an advanced 2D-to-3D conversion technology. They were profiled here earlier.

For more information about the conference, visit www.blurayacademy.com.

Story filed 27.03.11