Health arguments may sour 3D TV buzz

Top TV maker Samsung attempts to ease safety concerns, but debate continues

By Kim Yoo-chul

Nothing is perfect.

Developments in technology let people enjoy an easier life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that today’s issues will be resolved in the foreseeable future.

That’s the case with three dimensional (3D) televisions _ the next cash-cow actively embraced by TV majors including Samsung, LG and Sony.

Debates are continuing over the safety of images produced by 3D televisions. Calls are rising that viewers, especially children, should be kept away from them.

It has been a major issue for TV vendors. Easing safety concerns over 3D viewing is necessary to extend the sale of the premium televisions, as the industry pushes the technology.

``Statistics indicate that 3D TVs will make millions of people either uncomfortable or sick. Optometrists are also claiming that as many as one in four viewers has problems when watching 3D movies and televisions,’’ an optometrist in a Seoul hospital said.

Doctors say the 3D technology will turn developing eyes inward. As illusion of depth is created by 3D images that show a different image to each eye, the eyes are forced to understand the image in an unnatural way.

Firms are busy developing more natural 3D displays, though the progress is time-consuming, lessening the attractiveness of the sets and consumers’ conviction that 3D is the next big thing.

As viewers are required to wear special glasses to watch 3D images, they feel dizziness and fatigue after hours of viewing.

``Buying a 3D TV set might be plausible sentimentally, but I’ve acknowledged potential health-related risks,’’ said Park Seung-yong, a 34-year-old stock analyst in Seoul with a six-year-old son.

Top TV maker Samsung is taking rare action.

Samsung, which is driving the shuttered-glasses (SG) 3D technology by forming an alliance with long-time corporate partner Sony, said it provides user guidelines in the Samsung 3D TV Owner’s Manual.

``Adults continuously check on children who are using the technology and make sure that they take sufficient rest,’’ Samsung said.

It added that the strain and deterioration on children’s eyesight during prolonged TV sessions is well debated and globally understood.

A senior Samsung spokesman, Kim Choon-gon, said the world’s top technology company in terms of revenue has been developing prescription 3D glasses as a precautionary step.

LG, the runner-up to Samsung in the global television industry, said it has already been bolstering the so-called ``safety campaign’’ for both current and potential consumers.

LG executives told The Korea Times its technicians are getting more authority for the development of risk-free 3D glasses.

``An age old saying is too much of a good thing could be a bad thing,’’ said Corrie Labuschagne, product and marketing manager for TVs at Samsung’s South Africa division.

There haven’t been any official reports of health problems caused mainly by watching 3D TV here.

Desperate pitches

Critics say such TV companies are just fostering the technology for now, neglecting health safety tests.

Unfortunately, falling profit margins means rolling out more 3D TVs shortly, without paying more attention to ``3D safety.’’

Despite concerns on the potential health risk of 3D functions, manufacturers are being asked to implement aggressive strategies in the rapidly-growing market.

In the fourth quarter last year, Samsung’s digital media division, which is in charge of its television business, posted a 170 billion won operating loss. LG’s TV business recorded a 121.8 billion won operating loss during the same period, according to data from regulatory filings.

The No. 3 Sony was no exception.

``Uncertainties in developed markets and heating competition are cited as the main factors pulling TV prices down,’’ a high-ranking industry executive said.

The executive stressed that this year is more than crucial for TV makers to revive their business momentum and corporate sustainability. This will pressure them to focus on value-added televisions such as 3D TVs.

LG is consistently claiming that its latest film patterned retarder (FPR) 3D technology is much better than Samsung’s as the technology has eliminated problems associated with Samsung’s 3D sets such as flicker, cross-talk and battery-operated glasses.

Samsung’s Kim declined to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of LG’s FPR technology.

As a plan B, manufacturers are injecting more resources to develop pro-healthy 3D televisions, but with no visible results.

LG Electronics made some progresses in converting 2D images to 3D within the TV, making it possible for viewers to watch without glasses and therefore reducing the chance of damaging the eyes.

``The conversion technology needs more time,’’ said an LG official, asking not to be identified.

Toshiba also reported rather disappointing sales of its auto-stereoscopic 3D TVs due to higher costs, according to officials.

``We need a long-term study and standard for the safety of 3D televisions to better measure the impact of 3D TV on the eyes,’’ the Seoul optometrist said.

3D TV 시각 유해성 논란 확산

3차원(3D)입체 영상의 물결이 영화, TV, 게임 등 다양한 분야에서 밀어닥치고 있다.

그러나 3D의 대중화와 함께 3D TV의 시각 유해성 논란이 불붙고 있다.

전문가들과 의사들은 3D TV의 시각 유해성에 대해 엇갈린 견해를 보이고 있다. 3D TV의 화면 겹침 현상과 깜빡거림 현상의 파장에 대해 의견이 갈리고 있기 때문.

이런 상황에서 세계 1위 TV제조업체인 삼성전자는 이례적으로 3D TV의 시각 유해성에 대해 공식 보도자료를 내고 논란 확산 방지에 나섰다.

삼성전자 남아프리카공화국 법인의 제품 및 마케팅 담당 임원인 코리 라부샹 (Corrie Labuschagne)은 ``3D TV 시청이 건강에 유해하다는 어떠한 증거도 찾지 못했다’’며 ``시력 저하와 관련된 문제는 일반 TV시청이나 3D TV시청이나 별반 다를 것이 없다’’고 주장했다.

그는 다만 ``과도한 3D TV시청은 좋지 않다’’며 ``3D TV를 소유하고 있는 가정의 부모들은 아이들의 3D TV 시청과 관련해 지속적으로 모니터링을 해줘야 한다’’고 덧붙였다.

그러나 삼성전자와 LG전자등 세계 유수의 TV업체들은 이 같은 논란에도 3D TV시장 확대에 `올인’하고 있는 상황이다. LCD TV시장에서의 경쟁격화로 인한 수익성 하락으로 새로운 돌파구가 절실하기 때문.

익명을 요구한 한 업계 고위관계자는 ``TV제조업체들에게 있어 올해는 특히 중요한 해’’라며 ``제조업체들이 3D TV 라인업을 강화하고 있어 3D TV의 폭팔적인 성장이 예상된다’’고 말했다.

삼성전자는 해외 유수 업체들과의 전략적 제휴를 통해 셔텨글래스 방식의 3D TV 지배력을 더욱 강화한다는 계획이고 LG전자는 깜빡거림과 화면겹침이 상대적으로 적은 FPR 방식 3D TV 판촉전에 대대적으로 나선다.

이와 관련, LG디스플레이측은 ``FPR 방식은 안경에 전류가 흐르지 않아 인체에 유해하지 않다’’면서 건강에 무해한 3D TV의 중요성도 지속적으로 강조하고 있다.

한편 일본의 메이저 TV업체인 도시바는 `무안경 3D TV’ 를 야심차게 내 놓았으나 초기 판매실적은 매우 저조한 것으로 나타났다. 높은 가격이 걸림돌인 것.

LG전자 역시 2D 화면을 3D로 자동적으로 바꾸는 기능이 내장된 기술 개발에 박차를 가하고 있다. 삼성전자 또한 시력보호를 위한 다양한 기능이 내장된 3D 전용 안경 개발에 착수한 것으로 알려졌다.