With the rising popularity of 3-D movies in theaters, it might seem the only next step would be to bring 3-D TVs into existence. But one man is taking the technology even further.
Gene Dolgoff, a New Yorker whose resume boasts of inventing digital projection and the LCD projector, invented 3-D Vision’s Instant 3-D Converter. Dolgoff is also the chairman, CEO and chief technology officer of 3-D Vision.
“(The device) converts any video content into 3-D, and it also will convert any viewing device, like a TV set, into 3-D as well,” Dolgoff said. “So for $299 you have a complete 3-D system with unlimited content and no need to go out and buy a new 3-D TV set.”
The $299 price tag for a converter system slides in under the price of 3-D TVs, which have dropped in 2012 to around $699 at the cheapest, according to Time Magazine. Along with the lowering cost of 3-D TVs, the Consumer Electronics Association expects unit sales for 3-D TVs in 2012 to reach up to $5.6 million, which is a 104 percent increase from 2011.
Dolgoff is holding a contest to find a design for the outer case to hold the product.
“You know creativity and coolness when you see it, but it’s hard to come up with it yourself,” he said.
The contest and project itself have hit the ground running through Fundable.com, a Columbus-based crowd funding website whose company is based in Columbus. The website “allows companies to raise money through rewards programs,” said Eric Corl, Fundable president.
Corl said he has experienced the technology firsthand and was impressed by how well it works.
“It’s incredible technology,” Corl said. “We got a live demo when we went to New York and it was amazing.”
On 3-D Vision’s Fundable page, there are options to pledge money to help fund the project’s completion. Backers can pledge any amount and receive rewards based on the amount they pledge.
People who pledge $25 or more are eligible to submit a design for the outer casing of the finished 3D converter device and will win the $10,000 prize if their design is chosen. Backers who pledge $149 or more will receive one of the first Instant 3-D Converters before they hit the shelves.
Corl said the 3-D Vision Fundable project raised 85 percent of its $10,000 goal in about a week. The project had raised more than $17,000 by Monday night.
Liz Ignasiak, a first-year in biology, said she is a fan of 3-D movies and is somewhat intrigued by the idea of having a 3-D converter.
“It’s a definitely a cool idea. I don’t know if it’s completely necessary, but I do enjoy 3-D movies when they’re really realistic,” Ignasiak said.
Dolgoff said the converter would be great for college students who want to have a 3-D game system as well.
“We played the new Xbox game ‘Darksiders II’ on our system, and it was an incredible experience,” Dolgoff said, and called his technology a game changer. “It is going to revolutionize entertainment. … 3-D has taken over movies, and now it’s time to get it into the home.”
He said his aim for the project was to eliminate the problem of the limited amount of 3-D content available and the expense of having to buy a 3-D TV to watch such limited content at home.
Dolgoff has long been fascinated with 3-D technology.
“I’ve been a 3-D evangelist and committed to 3-D pretty much all of my life. When I was about three years old, I wanted to find a way to record and play back reality, and that includes 3-D,” Dolgoff said. “It got to the point where the demand was there and it was clear that now what was needed was this product.”
The contest to design the Instant 3-D Converter’s casing ends on Oct. 1 at midnight.
