The Nintendo 3DS unveiled for E3 2010 was the surprise hit for both Matt and I. We were sort of underwhelmed at the Nintendo Press Conference, but later, and getting actual hands-on time with the pocket handheld quickly changed our minds. The ability to show a 3D image on a flat 2D screen without clunky 3D glasses is just incredible. No need for battery powered 3D glasses to sync with the screen, or clunky headgear, your eyes are the only tools you need to create the 3D image.

After the jaw dropping first couple of minutes with the unit we quickly started to wonder how on earth something like this works? I was fine with the “black magic” answer, but I feel like I’ve found the real answer.

The technology behind the 3DS screen is called an autostereoscopic parallax barrier. Autostereoscopic displays are used to allow depth perception without the use of specialized headgear or glasses. These displays and technology have been around for years, and have been used to provide stereoscopic vision in research environments since the 1980’s. Autostereoscopic displays fool the brain by providing a stereo parallax (3D) view for the user. Essentially, each eye sees one of two different images. The parallax barrier helps to separate (or bring together) the 3D image and sending them to the correct eye.

With this technology, the parallax barrier is placed over the screen to allow the user to adjust the barrier. This is where the 3D slider comes in on the 3DS. That slider allows the user of the 3DS to adjust the parallax barrier to select how much or how little of the 3D image is entering the eyes, and how much of the image is separated. Essentially, the image is drawn twice on the screen in both red and blue, with the parallax barrier helping to send the correct color to the correct eye, creating the 3D image inside your mind. Yep, starting to sound like black magic to me.

Nintendo has tapped into great technology with this new iteration of the 3DS. Getting hands on with the handheld at E3 was quite the eye opener for both Matt and I to see it in action. You may also be wondering: Why don’t they create TV’s with this? The answer to that is simple: the viewing angle. Trying to sit dead center and in perfect view of your TV in your apartment or home is hard to do on a normal day, let alone with a 3D image on the screen. Any variation to the optimal viewing angle and the image on the screen begins to distort and separate. I’ve tried to look at Killzone 3 in 3D without glasses and after awhile it begins to numb my brain. This type of tech won’t be good for home viewing at long distances or weird angles from your TV, but turns out to be perfect for a small handheld you can adjust to your sitting position on the fly naturally.

The 3DS uses existing technology in a fresh way to continue to urge people to buy something most everyone on the planet already has. The 3DS is set to put Nintendo in the 3D market without them completely redesigning their flagship Wii console. The 3DS is set to be released sometime in early 2011. Be sure to keep an eye out for those parallax barriers, you might get sucked in.

You can also read more on parallax barriers, autostereoscopic image technology and more at the 3D forums.

[via 3D Forums]