We are now well and truly into the summer holidays. Not unlike me, the approach to them is often met with great anticipation and excitement among students all across the country. But now they’re here.

And I’m bored.

While many of my friends jetted off to exotic locations in all 4 corners of the Earth, I am left to my own devices at home, unknowing of how to spend my days. Seldom was there anything entertaining on TV by day, beyond the morning cartoons that I was too old for and the afternoon talk shows, cookery programmes and primitive movies that I was too young for. Video games can only entertain one so far and, while I take a keen interest in reading, paragraphs after paragraphs cannot keep me fixated for more than an hour or two.

Holding this blasé attitude for several days, there came a time when my parent’s could no longer bear the brunt of my bothersome skulking and asked whether I was interested in going to the Cinema with my brother. Thrilled at the prospect of watching ‘Inception’ or ‘The A-team’, I was dismayed when told the movie had to be suitable for my younger brother. My counter-argument that the former taught my brother about Metaphysics while the latter about weaponry and army vehicles (useful in Secondary school History), did not go well with my parent’s. Thus, I was told I had to take my brother to either ‘Shrek 3’ or ‘Toy Story 3’. While I am under no disillusion, that actually there are countless 15 year olds who are fans of the infamous Toy Story saga, I was not happy that my choices were boiled down to two rather disinteresting, mundane animations.

Sadly, I am of the minority who missed the 3D Success that was ‘Avatar’, and I knew that while I may find it hard to enjoy the Toy Story, the digitally remastered ‘Disney Digital’ 3D effects should compensate for me missing the Oscar-winning, Record-breaking, blockbuster, ‘Avatar’. Nah, I didn’t think so either.

We turned up at the Cinema, paid for the tickets and were presented with two rather gimmicky pieces of eyewear. Thickly framed and tinted, not too dissimilar to those the archetypal ‘geek’ would be seen wearing, we placed on our eyes these glasses. They were quite the spectacle to onlookers (excuse the pun). Waiting eagerly (yeah, right) for the movie to begin, were seated no less than 10 others in the entirety of the hall. Granted, 6 days had passed since its release and yes, it was a Thursday morning. But 11 people seated for a film that broke records with a $41 million dollar opening, for a film that’s raising high hopes for the Oscars. For a film that has been given 99% by reviewers. Of course.

I was told of fabulous effects and a really intuitive viewing experience prior to the movie, but my astonishment became upscaled as the famous Walt Disney shot and the Pixar lamp really shot out at me. I became engrossed in the film, as if I had become a part of instead of a viewer. The already CGI enhanced characters who had maintained a sense of realism right from the first instalment 15 years ago, were now given a sense of depth and perspective.

The film left me pondering this relatively new technological experiment and I wanted to know more as to how it actually worked.

A couple of web pages later, I learnt that it all boiled down to our ‘Binocular vision’. Due to the distance between our eyes, albeit small, each eye sees a slightly altered image to the other. Our brain then considers these two images and, using this small distance, gives us a perception of depth- which is essentially the basis for 3D Vision. However, since normal movies are presented on a flat screen, this is physically impossible. Nevertheless, the fashion disaster that are 3D glasses often have multicoloured lenses, although (thankfully) modern glasses now bear mono-hued lenses. This means that, our Brain is again led to believe that our eyes are seeing two different images, and so this perception of depth is restored.

Right, now that’s the dreary, sciency stuff out the way, do we really need it?

With 3D TV’s set to be available domestically from this autumn, there is no doubt that we are heading towards a giant Technological leap. Sports on TV should be particularly rejuvenated with football, rugby, cricket and tennis all set to be broadcasted in a whole new dimension. Literally. The fact that soon ridiculous glasses will not be necessary when watching 3D is another crowd pleaser.

Moreover, viewers can now be immersed in masterpieces that are already enhanced through a High-definition, LED display and almost experience live that crucial goal being scored, or those break points converted or that ‘6’ being hit. In furtherance of this, the great advantage is you can experience excellent quality pictures in three dimensional images from the comfort of your own living room. You don’t have to go to a theater to enjoy 3D films. It is also has great potential for people who love to play computer and video games.

However, there are some disadvantages with 3D TV, as is the case with many newfound technological ventures. Primarily, the cost will put people off. The big four retailers- Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and LG are all offering 3D TV’s at process upwards of £2000 as well as charging over £100 per pair of glasses (although most retailers offer at least 1 free pair). In today’s day and age, full-HD LCD TV’s are available at much cheaper rates. The need to then purchase a Sky 3D box to watch 3D Channels is another cause for disdain, since subscription charges and monthly fees are higher than conventional Sky packages. It has also been known to have a negative effect on the eyes. When you take into the account that the human eye wasn’t created with television in mind, you can quickly see how eye troubles can be caused from it. Whether 3D or not, studies show that prolonged television watching will weaken and strain the eye. Once you factor in special lighting, animation effects and other computer related technologies it’s not hard to imagine the deteriorating role 3D plays on the eyes.

In conclusion, I believe that although 3D TV is a venture to be excited about and will be a great leap in the world of entertainment, the disadvantages, i.e. exorbitant costs, currently outweigh the advantages and it makes sense to wait until retailers lower their prices.

Oh, and by the way, the film was great!