Business

New eye-shades can double for 3-D viewing

New eye-shades can double for 3-D viewing

By Agence France Presse

LAS VEGAS: With the hit movie “Avatar” creating a buzz around 3-D entertainment, a California company is touting what it believes are the first 3-D glasses which can also double as sunglasses. “We believe we’re the first ones and we have a significant patent portfolio in the lens device so we believe we’ll have a good bit of protection in the market,” MicroVision Optical president David Johnson said. The San Diego-based company is displaying the glasses here at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, where leading television manufacturers have been pushing 3-D technology as the next big thing in home theater. MicroVision Optical said the polarized lenses provide sun protection while also allowing for 3-D viewing of the most widely used 3-D movie theater systems and the latest generation of flat screen television or computer monitors. “It decodes the content very clearly, very crisply,” Johnson said, adding that the 3-D/sunglasses should be a permanent addition to the our eyewear collection. He said the glasses, which come in a variety of styles, will sell for between $32 and $40 in optical stores. “We’re also working on a prescription programme where you can have your own prescription 3-D glasses as well,” he said.