Designed to support any 3D enabled TV, the Blu-ray disc association has released a preliminary specification for 3D on Blu-ray.

In a nutshell, the new specification describes the projection of a Full HD 1080p resolution to each eye with special glasses designed to merge the two images giving an illusion of depth. The 3D specification is display independent, meaning it can deliver a 3D image to any 3D screen whatever the display technology used.

For the more technically minded, the 3D Blu-ray specification has gone for the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec, and the ITU-T H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec which is already supported by all Blu-ray players. The MVC codec requires only a 50% increase in storage capacity over 2D.

Sony's PS3 game consoles get support for the play back of Blu-ray 3D content in 3D. The specification will also support 2D discs in the new 3D players, providing backward compatibility.

Benn Carr, chairman of the Blu-ray Disk Association 3D Task Force said: "From a technological perspective, it is simply the best available platform for bringing 3D into the home."

Blu-ray association executives along with manufacturers such as Sony and Panasonic are hoping that their growing investment in 3D will translate into significant 3D adoption in the home. They would like to see the newly found enthusiasm for 3D cinema translated into a desire from consumers to replicate the experience in the home.

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