There is a new vision for entertainment, and it's in 3-D.

By all accounts, commercial movie ticket sales are in the toilet this year. Many analysts point to the proliferation of DVDs and home theater systems as the culprits. I like to think it also has something to do with the quality of the films being produced. (See our Hot Button column for a commentary on that.) In addition, many of us are willing to wait a couple months for even the best movies, especially if we can watch them in the comfort of our home theaters.

So what's Hollywood's answer for returning us to the theater? Right now there appears to be a two-pronged approach. The first part is generally called the Digital Theater or Digital Cinema Initiative. This involves shooting, editing and distributing films using digital technology. I've seen the final product several times now and it's breathtaking. And while it's going to be slow to roll out, it's far better than anything we're used to viewing. But is that enough?

That's where the second part of the equation comes in. We see the world in three dimensions, but for the most part we've only been able to depict it in two. Until recently no one had come up with a better solution to this problem than goofy eyewear. Even when Rover sent back images from Mars, NASA scientists studied them wearing glasses similar to that donned by audiences in 1950s.

But the relative success of recent films like The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D and tests with The Polar Express have raised 3-D's profile and Hollywood's interest. At an industry tradeshow this year, moviemaking Jedi George Lucas announced that a California-based company, In-Three, would be remaking all of the Star Wars films in 3-D. Other heavyweights like Robert Zemeckis and Titanic director James Cameron were soon throwing their weight behind In-Three and the 3-D movement.

This reflects the growing use of 3-D technology all around us. It's in everything today from design tools for car manufacturers to the new Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms that will soon support more realistic games.

Also look for 3-D to come to a home theater near you, via companies such as Sensio, which is leveraging today's 2-D infrastructure of your standard-definition screen and DVD player to deliver real 3-D. It uses its own DVD software titles, an unassuming processor and a couple pairs of LCD-enabled glasses. It has a commitment to rolling out a film or more each month. And with new a HD version of the technology on the way, no home theater should be without it. It's that cool!

Good listening and viewing!

John Caldwell is cofounder of the StJohn Group, www.stjohngroup.com

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