Aswith 3-D movies in the past, viewers wear special glasses whilewatching Avatar and other such films. The glasses ensure thatone image goes to each eye, while the brain puts me two imagestogether to create the sense of depth that 3-D movies provide. In the1950s 3-D was no more than a passing fad in the film industry, butadvanced techniques have vastly improved the experience for modernmoviegoers.

 Developmentsin 3-D are also opening up new possibilities in other areas ofentertainment. New 3-D television sets are on the market, and livesports events have already been broadcast in 3-D at a limited numberof sites. Some channels, such as Discovery, have announced plans tolaunch 3-D TV networks in 2011. It will soon be possible to playthree-dimensional computer and video games; for example, the Nintendo3-DS handheld console is expect to be ready for launch by March 2011.What's more, digital versions of newspapers, magazines, and booksoffering a 3-D reading experience could soon become part of everydaylife.

   Besidesentertainment,3-D technology can be used in other fields, such asmedicine, education, and science. Its use has helped speed up theprocess of mapping the human genome and the development of new drugs.Many universities are setting up laboratories furnished with 3-Dequipment for students in subjects ranging from biology and medicineto engineering and chemistry. In the commercial field, architects areturning to 3-D modeling to draw up realistic construction plans.These are just a few of the many applications of 3-D technology.

 However,this 3-D revolution has sparked some concerns over its effects onhuman health, especially in its entertainment applications.Thesuccess of 3-D films has been accompanied by complaints from somemoviegoers of headaches and eyestrain. Experts are calling forfurther research into physical problems associated with 3-D viewing.So far, though, only a small number of people have reported negativeexperiences, and it is hoped that the far-reaching benefits of thisnew technology will outweigh any adverse effects.