Toshiba said Friday it had found a way for a flat screen to show three-dimensional images, opening up the prospect of arcade games, next-generation TVs and even restaurant menus that can zoom out at a viewer even without the use of 3-D glasses.
The Japanese electronics giant said it had improved on standard 3-D technology — which uses specially shaped screens that must be watched from a fixed point — by using microlenses that control light emission and special software.
Toshiba demonstrated the invention by showing a flat screen which appeared to have bottles and cans sticking out several centimeters (inches) in the air.
The company set a goal of first using the technology in 2006 in arcade games.
By 2007, Toshiba hopes to be able to develop 3-D menus — which would come in handy in Japan, where restaurants often show pictures of what's on offer.
