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Adding a new dimension to DVD? - April 23, 2008

Here's something to make you go, hmmm....: The DVD Forum has posted a Request for Information on its web site, regarding "the possible incorporation of 3D movie technology" into the DVD and HD DVD (?!) formats. Although the RFI stresses that the Forum "has made no decision" yet to incorporate such technology into the format, it says it will make that decision after "studying each proposed 3D movie technology." The deadline for submissions is May 17. No word on how long it plans to study the submissions before deciding whether to decide.

The request was posted to the Forum's web site April 21, one week after the U.S. Display Consortium and Insight Media held the first meeting of the 3D@Home Consortium during the National Assn. of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. The new group aims to "speed the commercialization of 3D into homes worldwide and provide the best possible viewing experience by facilitating the development of standards, roadmaps and education for the entire 3D industry – from content, hardware and software providers to consumers," according to its mission statement. No word on whether the DVD Forum's new interest in 3D is related to the new group's unveiling.

One thing the Forum's interest in 3D certainly is related to, however, is the group's own decision in February to "study and specify network applications and related network specification of DVD Forum formats, make recommendations for better interoperability and functionality of network connected DVD Forum specified devices and content, and communicate on relevant recommendations with other standard creation organizations."

In other words, although the DVD Forum-backed HD DVD format lost out to Blu-ray Disc in the next-gen DVD sweepstakes, the standards body isn't leaving the original format to lie fallow. Instead, it's looking for ways to incorporate next-gen features into the old spec, some left over from the HD DVD effort (HDi, connectivity), and now others that were never part of the Blu-ray/HD DVD discussions (3D).

Taking a page straight out of the HD DVD play book, in fact, the Forum is looking at the potential of adding new features without breaking continuity with the existing DVD format. From the RFI:

The DVD Forum may also consider whether measures to achieve compatibility with existing DVD-Video and HD DVD-Video players would also need to be implemented in the event 3D movie technology is incorporated into the DVD Format Specifications.

That would be quite an event.

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