[Philip Lelyveld comment: This is a good overview of future technologies being considered for the traditional movie theatre experience.]
[Wall Street Journal]
… Such were the possibilities raised last month at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas, where technology companies pitched theater operators on the merits of faster projection rates to improve clarity; new, immersive, surround-sound audio systems; laser 3-D projectors; paperless ticketing; and more. …
Dolby Laboratories Inc., for example, is expected to test its Atmos audio system in screenings in 10 to 15 world-wide theaters of “Brave,” a film from Walt Disney Co.’s Pixar Animation Studios scheduled to premier in June. …
IMAX Corp. is showcasing an early prototype of a digital-projection system, developed with Barco Inc., that uses lasers instead of bulbs to project images onto screens, casting a brighter, more reliable light. The projectors won’t be ready for the market until late 2013, at the earliest, the film and technology companies say, but some CinemaCon attendees got a sneak peek. …
Another new technology: Later this year, upgraded 4K digital projectors from Sony Corp. will start showing films at the higher, 48 frames-per-second rate, making images appear crisper and more lifelike than the current 24 fps—in use since the late 1920s.
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of two prequels to Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, will be the first feature film shown at 48 fps when it opens in December. (Regal Entertainment Group cinemas is upgrading its projectors to use the faster frame rate; other theater companies are considering it.) …
While a broad uptake in 3-D technology over the past few years has tempted a sizable chunk of movie goers, especially adolescents and young adults, there isn’t any guarantee the newest—frequently pricey—advances in viewing technology will pay off for cinemas. …
As of March 31, 69% of the roughly 40,000 theaters in the U.S. and Canada had converted to digital projectors and screens, according to an estimate from IHS Screen Digest. By year’s end, that number will be closer to 85%, the research firm estimates. …
Some manufacturers are trying to smooth the transition for theater owners. Sony Digital Cinema will offer for sale to current users of its 4K digital cinema projectors a remote software update to make sure its projectors will be able to play movies like “The Hobbit” at the higher, 48 fps frame rate. …
See the full story here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304203604577394331145205406.html?mod=googlenews_wsj