CES 2010: 3D glasses need more specs appeal

This year's CES was awash with 3D TVs, with each manufacturer extolling the virtues of its own sets. What they weren't trumpeting about quite so loudly was the glasses that are needed to go with them.

The XpanD 103 Active-Shutter glasses (main picture) are, save for a few tweaks for home use, identical to those found in some cinemas. The main style element is the option of roughly 12 different colour options. No great aesthetic leap forward there, then.

Next up is Nvidia's Active-Shutter glasses for its 3D Vision system. These have been around since last year with not so much as a style tweak. They're certainly better than the XpanD 103s - lighter and not so comedy at least. But we still think Nvidia should try harder.

Both of these are similar to offerings by all the major manufacturers.

Then we come to Gunnar Optiks' 3D glasses. Admittedly, they will be polarising type glasses that don't need the electronics fitted in the above two, but the style is still unreasonably far ahead. Gunnar already makes glasses specifically for screen viewing with names like Wi-Five, Bit Surfer and nQuery, and even sponsors the Major Gaming League.

Manufacturers should take note, and perhaps think about working with some established eyewear brands. Only then will we be saved from the long arm of the fashion police.