J. Eur. Opt. Society-Rapid Publ. 22, 22( 2026) 211
Table 1. The technological features of conventional flat-panel( 2D) display and stereoscopic display [ 19, 20 ].
Feature |
Conventional 2D display |
Stereoscopic display |
Depth Perception |
No depth, purely 2D |
Depth is perceived through binocular disparity, holographic display, or light-field technologies |
Viewing Angle |
Fixed, no change in viewing angle |
Adjustable angles, showing depth from multiple angles |
Display Representation |
Height and width only |
Height, width, and depth( true 3D or parallax effects) |
Display Technology |
LCD, OLED, LED, CRT |
Stereoscopic, holographic, light field, floating 3D |
Interactivity |
Limited( except for touchscreens) |
Often includes interactive elements |
Examples |
Standard 2D TVs, computer monitors, smartphones, 2D movies |
3D TVs( older tech), holographic display, projection display, floating 3D display, light field 3D display, 3D movies |
reconstructing spatial depth and a sense of realism. The features of 2D displays and stereoscopic displays are summarized in Table 1.
Immersive display technologies refer to advanced 3D stereoscopic systems that combine depth perception with interactive and immersive environments. They create visual or true effects with stereoscopic depth by optical technologies. Meanwhile, they enable user interaction via motion tracking, gesture recognition, or eye tracking. The combination enhances the realism and interactivity of stereoscopic content, making it possible for users to experience fully immersive virtual or augmented environments. The indepth application of immersive technologies in the modern exhibition industry has fundamentally revolutionized how audiences experience events, shows and activities. With the rise of technologies like projection display, floating 3D, binocular parallax stereoscopic display( virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality), the static display modes of traditional exhibitions have evolved into an immersive experience paradigm that combines dynamic interactivity and strong appeal [ 19 ].
Stereoscopic display technologies can be divided into two main categories: glasses-wearing and glasses-free systems. Glasses-wearing stereoscopic technology typically relies on specialized displays or eyewear, such as stereoscopic glasses, polarized glasses, red-blue glasses or shutter glasses, to deliver different views to each eye, thereby creating a sense of depth and a stereoscopic effect. This type of technology is commonly used in cinemas, TVs, and certain VR headsets [ 20 ]. When using stereoscopic display technology with glasses, there will be disadvantages such as discomfort and inconvenience. Moreover, this technology is restricted in terms of viewing angle, viewing method, and R & D costs. First, prolonged viewing can lead to visual fatigue, headaches and dizziness. Second, people who already wear glasses will face an extra burden and inconvenience when required to wear supplementary specialized glasses. Third, glasses-dependent stereoscopic display technology has strict requirements for viewing angles and distances. Fourth, this technology cannot enable collective viewing experiences essential to modern exhibitions. Fifth, this technology usually requires specialized hardware devices( e. g., dedicated eyewear or screens), increasing the costs and technical complexity of the system [ 20, 21 ].
Glasses-free stereoscopic technology employs specialized optical designs( e. g., parallax barriers, lenticular lenses, floating 3D display, and holographic display) to enable three-dimensional visual experience without requiring users to wear specialized eyewear [ 22 ]. By obviating the need for supplementary eyewear, the approach of glasses-free stereoscopic display alleviates discomfort while facilitating unrestricted movement and immersive stereoscopic experiences without physical interference. Furthermore, this technology supports multiple people in viewing with the naked eye simultaneously, making a breakthrough for the singleviewer constraints of glasses-dependent systems. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for public spaces and exhibition scenarios.
3 Technical principle and application scenarios
Stereoscopic display technology is typically classified based on the underlying principles and perception mechanisms of the depth effect. According to the differences in technical implementations, it is generally categorized into three types: true 3D, pseudo-3D, and false 3D [ 23, 24 ]. In brief, true 3D display technology reconstructs physical objects in objective reality as seen in true holographic and light-field displays. Pseudo-3D display technology deceives the visual system into perceiving solid objects, such as in binocular disparity stereoscopic displays. False 3D display technology can still create a cognitive illusion of depth, even when recognized by the visual system as 2D images.
Here, based on practical application scenarios in the modern exhibition industry, this paper categorizes glassesfree stereoscopic display technologies into five types: holographic 3D display, optical illusion stereoscopic display, projection stereoscopic display, floating 3D display, and light field 3D display, as illustrated in Figure 1.
The features of holographic 3D display, optical illusion display, projection stereoscopic display, floating 3D display and light field 3D display are listed in Table 2.