Dialog Semiconductor intros 2D to 3D conversion chip for smartphones, tablets

Dialog Semiconductor has introduced the DA8223, the "world’s first" real time 2D to 3D video conversion chip for portable devices.

Touted as ideal for smartphones and tablets, the DA8223 also features a parallax barrier screen driver that permits users to view 3D content without any 3D-ready glasses. The chip supports displaying 3D content in both portrait and landscape positions in real time. Dialog recommends 3.8- to 10-inch displays, such as OLED or TFT.

However, because that barrier is required, if you would want to watch any content in old school 2D, you'd have to go somewhere else. Nevertheless, the technology is pretty revolutionary and uncomplicated for the end-user. There isn't any software that needs to be installed, and use of this 2D-to-3D chip should only use "a tiny fraction of the battery."

No word on when or where exactly we'll see this technology implemented.

UPDATE: A Dialog Semiconductor PR rep informed us that users can watch content in 2D as the parallax barrier can be "switched off making it transparent. Each eye sees the complete image just as a normal 2D display."