CRI听力:3D TV Sets

China's new trial 3-D channel initially have just four-and-a-half hours of new content every day. The new channel will upgrade from trial to formal operations around the time of the Chinese New Year holiday.

But compared to watching traditional TV programs, the 3-D channel requires viewers to have special 3-D TV sets.

Liu Baoping, General Manager of China DTV Media Inc., Ltd., says high-definition digital TV set-top boxes are indispensable.

"Besides the set-top box, viewers are supposed to have a 3-D TV set. Although ordinary TV sets can receive the 3-D TV signals, they can't produce the 3-D effects. Meanwhile, when watching the 3-D content, viewers should wear 3-D glasses as well."

Two kinds of 3-D TV sets recently became available on the market. One lets viewers watch 3-D programs without any additional equipment, but the price is very high. The other requires viewers to wear 3-D glasses.

Because of the lack of 3-D TV programs, many TV set manufacturers have developed a 3-D simulation technology that can convert 2-D into 3-D on ordinary television sets.

But one 3-D TV set salesman says the 3-D simulation technology has some shortcomings.

"The simulation technology can help create a depth-of-field effect, but compared to the genuine 3-D technology, it can't produce a convex effect."

Song Linlin, a manager of an electronic appliances shopping mall, suggests that consumers purchase the 3-D TV with a big screen.

"Aside from the big screen, the backlight of the 3-D TV set should send light evenly, such as LED. The higher the updated frequency of the pictures is, the better the TV set is."

Although 3-D content is enjoyable and lively, experts warn that if viewers watch it for too long, they will experience visual fatigue. They suggest that viewers-especially teenagers-reduce the time they spend watching 3-D programs.

For CRI, I'm Shuangfeng.