Comcast lights up holidays with 3-D show

Generations of Philadelphians have visited department stores to see displays of holiday lights or mechanical colonial villages. But the next generation of holiday displays is now at the Comcast Building.

Generations of Philadelphians have visited department stores to see displays of holiday lights or mechanical colonial villages. But the next generation of holiday displays is now at the Comcast Building.

Today, Comcast turned its massive, 10-million pixel screen in the lobby of its Center City skyscraper into a 3-D video show. Every hour on the hour brings an 18-minute sequence of ballet, ice skating, sledding, and swing dancing. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts says the 3-D video technology is a preview of what could soon be in your living room.

Roberts: A lot of TV manufacturers are looking for the next generation of high definition to sell. Our bandwidth allows us to offer 3-D On Demand or a 3-D channel. And we may not be ready for all shows to be in 3-D, but when you see one of the great 3-D movies in theater you’ll want to see it in your living room in 3D. That’s what we’re previewing with this show.

The display is free and open to the public, and to see the 3-D effect you have to wear special cardboard glasses. Roberts says when 3-D television becomes available, glasses will no longer be necessary.