TOKYO (AP) — Sharp is banking on the growing popularity of 3-D technology to show off its display panel strengths to keep growth going for the Japanese electronics maker, its president said Monday.
Sharp Corp. will start mass-producing a high-definition 3-D camera for mobile devices this fiscal year through March 2011, which will allow people to take 3-D photos and 3-D video on their smart phones, other cell phones and digital cameras to watch on 3-D TVs in their living rooms, Sharp President Mikio Katayama said.
He said that 3-D TVs as well as TVs with LED backlight were proving far more successful than cautious initial expectations, resulting in a shortage of panel supplies — and a big opportunity for manufacturers like Sharp.
Sharp, which makes Aquos TVs, is among the leaders in both kinds of technology in liquid crystal displays, although it faces growing competition from South Korean and Taiwanese companies.
"We see the increasing demand for 3-D cameras and displays as a big opportunity for Sharp," Katayama told reporters at the company's Tokyo office.
3-D technology gives the viewer an illusion of depth and immediacy by sending different images to the left and right eye.
LED TVs are more energy-efficient than older kinds of flat-panel TVs. Their popularity is growing as ecological concerns grow around the world.
Osaka-based Sharp is also introducing a new color technology for TVs called Quattron that it says make for brighter and clearer imagery while consuming less power.
Sharp has started selling Aquos TVs with the Quattron technology is the U.S. and Europe last month. The product is planned for Japan and other markets later this year.
