First Look: GeForce 3D Vision

At first glance, the NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision wireless active-shutter glasses appear much like regular sunglasses. These glasses are light-weight enough to wear for several hours without discomfort, and large enough to wear over a pair of prescription glasses if required. There really isn't much to the 3D Vision gaming kit, since the glasses only need to pair with an IR transmitter to function properly.

Each 120Hz eye-piece opens and closes the LCD shutters in alternation, creating a view of two separate images. These images are then processed by your brain as they arrive, and become united into one picture. The subconscious mind combines the two images by matching the similarities and then adding in the small differences. The differences between the two images create depth, and deliver a three-dimensional stereo picture.

A power button and USB micro-B connection are built into the left arm of the glasses. Beside the left lens-piece on the wireless active-shutter glasses is an infra-red receiver. This component requires a line-of-sight view of the IR transmitter, pictured below.

NVIDIA includes a very versatile wireless IR emitter unit with the GeForce 3D Vision stereoscopic gaming kit. The large dial allows the user to increase or decrease the amount of 3D field depth in the picture, which will vary over time as the comfort level improves.

The IR emitter unit connects to the computer by a USB micro-B connection, and can interface with DLP projectors or HDTV's by using the included 3-pin VESA stereo cable. NVIDIA also includes a DVI to HDMI converter cable, for connecting to 120Hz HDTV's.

The NVIDIA 942-10701-0003-000 kit comes with everything you see pictured below. Multiple converter cables make it easy to connect your computer to a HDTV or projector. Replacement nose-piece inserts allow your glasses to be comfortable at all times. NVIDIA Even includes a pouch and micro-fiber cleaning cloth for the glasses.

So now you know what's included in the NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision kit, we begin the hard part: explaining how it works and describing the experience of 3D stereoscopic gaming.

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