Acer unveils 3D laptop displays

Acer yesterday announced SpatialLabs, a suite of experiences empowered by optical solutions with display and sensory technologies that bring the virtual world to a physical dimension. Content floats in front of the screen, allowing creators to examine their creations in real-time and 360 degrees—without the need for specialised glasses.

At its annual Global Press Conference, held virtually for the second time, it also announced the SpatialLabs Developer Program for Unreal Engine developers interested in presenting projects with SpatialLabs. Those enrolled in the program will receive a ConceptD SpatialLabs prototype notebook.

“Building on our commitment to creators through ConceptD, we’re excited to introduce SpatialLabs, the next step of Acer’s efforts to enable immersive experiences,” said Jerry Kao, Co-COO of Acer. “SpatialLabs enhances 3D designers’ current workflow, so they can focus their time and resources on the creative process. For developers, SpatialLabs empowers them to create astonishing experiences in various verticals through our support for Unreal Engine.”

Cutting-edge optical solutions and Technology

The SpatialLabs experience is created through the combination of an eye-tracking solution, a stereoscopic 3D display and real-time rendering technologies. The eye-tracking solution consists of a stereo camera set, located on top of the device, and tracks the position and movement of a user’s head and eyes. The display of the ConceptD SpatialLabs prototype notebook to be provided to participants of the developer program consists of a UHD 2D panel with a liquid crystal lenticular lens optically bonded on top of it, together forming an innovative module that can be switched back and forth between 2D and stereoscopic 3D views.

In combination, this allows graphics processing technology to display a different image to each of a viewer’s eyes, creating a stereoscopic 3D effect that allows content to float in front of the screen. Real-time rendering technologies allow creators to interact with 3D models when using applications in the SpatialLabs Experience Center, to review their creations in real-time, enhancing the design workflow, and to present interactive and immersive projects—all in stereoscopic 3D.  

Creations that float off the screen

This suite of technology is revolutionary for creators who work with 3D content. Designers typically work on 2D displays that provide only limited information about the depth of a 3D object or scene. SpatialLabs empowers creators with the ability to see their projects come to life in real time.

Traditionally, artists had to make multiple sketches from different angles to ensure that their characters were proportioned correctly. Computers improved on this process, but as it is difficult to judge 3D proportions on a 2D screen, much was still left to a designer’s judgment. The SpatialLabs Model Viewer eliminates this limitation by providing an additional dimension for designers to work with, out-of-the-box: an intuitive 360-degree perspective in which models can be rotated, moved, or even dragged out of the screen, allowing all angles to be considered. Even when considering a model from the same angle, more information is available in a stereoscopic 3D representation than a 2D one.

Being able to see their creations in stereoscopic 3D at a 1:1 ratio speeds up the process of finding issues and ensuring that a 3D design matches their original concept design. For example, product designers can use the SpatialLabs Model Viewer to get an idea of what the item they are making will look like before investing the time and resources to print or tool it. Additionally, functions like the ability to change a model’s HDRI background allow them to be presented in a natural, realistic environment. This means that managers and team members can provide clearer feedback at each stage of a project, and customers can better visualise an item to ensure that it aligns with their expectations.

SpatialLabs Experience Center

The ConceptD SpatialLabs prototype notebook’s display is set to 2D mode by default, enabling the device to be utilised as a normal notebook computer. Upon launching applications in the SpatialLabs Experience Center, stereoscopic 3D mode will be automatically switched on.

The SpatialLabs Experience Center is a launcher which includes a tutorial on using the technology, several shortcuts for applications, and installers for applications and add-ons. Currently, these applications include:

• SpatialLabs Model Viewer: A tool which enables a user to import files in all major 3D file formats and present them in stereoscopic 3D. While in the model viewer, information generated about head-position is incorporated into the displayed 3D model. For example, moving slightly to the left or right will rotate the 3D model in the opposite direction, as if a user had taken a step to either side of the object. All of this happens in real-time.
• SpatialLabs Model Viewer add-ons are available for major 3D software suites, such as Blender and Autodesk Fusion 360, that allow files created in those applications to be transferred into the SpatialLabs Model Viewer with a single click.
• SpatialLabs Go: A proprietary solution for rendering side-by-side full screen content into stereoscopic 3D. For example, after leveraging Blender to set a window into side-by-side full screen view, designers can use SpatialLabs Go to transfer it into stereoscopic 3D.
• PiStage for Maya: The middleware PiStage functions as a tool that allows the time-consuming back-and-forth rendering pipeline to be skipped, giving users the flexibility to create or edit content on an extended 2D monitor and view any changes made in stereoscopic 3D in real-time, with SpatialLabs.
• SpatialLabs Player: A native player for presenting side-by-side video in stereoscopic 3D.

Developer’s program

SpatialLabs also supports Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D tool that gives creators the freedom to realise their visions, empowering developers and teams to collaborate and iterate faster than ever before with no compromises in quality or scalability.

“Our team is excited about the possibilities with new ConceptD SpatialLabs prototype notebook and their SpatialLabs Developer Program,” said John Buzzell, the Lead of Enterprise Business Development at Unreal Engine. “When your innovative content and applications combine with the latest in visualisation, you get an experience that’s immersive, accessible and engaging.”  

To help turn their imagination into reality, Acer will provide those admitted to the programme with a ConceptD SpatialLabs prototype notebook for a period of three months—totally free of charge, freight included. Accepted applicants can use the provided device to create projects in Unreal Engine, and in exchange, the applicant should allow Acer to demo and exhibit these project(s) for one year. User feedback and an interview will also be gathered during the creation process for purposes including product development.

Interested applicants can apply here. Application closes on 30 June 2021, after which point successful applicants will be contacted.