A new report by NPD’s DisplaySearch research group forecasts the 3D display market to begin taking off this year and grow to a $22 billion industry by 2018, with 196 million display units overall.
The 3D Display Technology and Market Forecast Report projects that sales by that point will be made up of 64 million 3D-ready TVs using primarily LCD technology, representing $17 billion in sales.
But 3D will be even more ubiquitous on mobile phones with 71 million units expected to have 3D capability in 2018.
Other display devices will include 3D notebook computers (17.7 million) and 3D-ready monitors (10 million units).
With the unprecedented success of “Avatar” in theaters, DisplaySearch forecasts the installation of more than 7,000 new 3D cinema screens this year and an additional 9,000 in 2011.
— By Scott Hettrick