Will digital signage be the “breakthrough” market for Stereo 3D?

“Avatar” and all of the hype about stereo 3D-enabled TVs aside, I still don’t get the impression that stereo 3D has really found it’s breakthrough application.  CG generated films have a definite niche.  But 3D micro-shutter glasses for you and your friends/family in your living room (fragile, costly and headache inducing)?  I don’t think so.

3D visualization for CAD, design, architecture and mapping is a real market (check out the Infinite Z immersive, real-time virtual-holographic display, and Zebra Imaging plastic holograms for mapping and architectural design.).  But it is still very limited in terms of market penetration and the ultimate value to most CAD/Design users is still untested.

But when it comes to something that is more pervasive and mainstream, I am wondering if it will be 3D digital signage that ends up the big breakthrough application. Last week was the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas and I noticed several press releases about companies planning to release auto-stereoscopic (no glasses needed) 3D digital signage that will be “popular with companies looking to reach consumers that have become desensitized to traditional media.”

As I wrote about previously, the upcoming Catalyst 10.3 driver for Radeons will introduce 3D stereo driver hooks - enabling third-party vendors to take advantage of more 3D stereoscopic options.