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Apple Patents Glasses-Free 3D Projector
angry tapir writes "Apple has been awarded a US patent for a display system that would allow multiple viewers to see a high-quality 3D image projected on a screen without the need for special glasses, regardless of where they are sitting. Entertainment is far from the only field in which 3D can enhance the viewing experience: others include medical diagnostics, flight simulation, air traffic control, battlefield simulation, weather diagnostics, advertising and education, according to Apple's US patent 7,843,449 for a 3D display system."
It has yet to implement any of its ideas in a shipping product
I certainly don't want to come to Apple's defense, but that isn't the same as saying they are not developing the technology. It just says they aren't shipping anything with the technology. It has only been 4 years since application, and it is entirely possible that the technology works but is incredibly expensive at this stage, or not reliable enough, or not "good" enough yet. Apple is typically NOT the first to release a product type, just the first to release a really good one. So I've heard at least, as I haven't owned an Apple product since my Mac 7600.
I'm not saying that they aren't planning to troll, but I don't think you can jump to any conclusion based on that single fact.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
Your Google search gives a bunch of results about products that implement glasses-free 3D with various problems that the Apple method is designed to overcome. There's also no support in your references for your claim that Apple has not built anything using the idea. They have not shipped anything using the idea. It is quite likely they have built prototype products using it.
Agreed, it can take 5 or more years to go from patent to market in a high tech market. It's silly to think that just because no product in a couple of years since patent that it's patent trolling.
Don't people bitch all the time about patents that do something done before, but just tack on "but with a computer"? It's not like Apple invented the eye tracking tech, or any other part. They just put the pieces together. But with a computer.
Canada: The US's more awesome sibling.
Whooosh
Actually, the educational value of explaining a reason why a seemingly anticipatory reference can't be used to reject a claim far outweighs the humor value of the joke - especially in a place like Slashdot where everyone thinks they're an expert on rejecting patents, but few truly know what they're talking about.