The present flat screens can not get any flatter and the consumers do not want them to grow any wider so Japanese television makers are relying upon a whole new technology to buttress their new range.

This technology works by quickly alternating between left and right frames of the video. The left frame can be viewed only by the left eye and the right eye can be viewed only with the right eye, which creates an illusionary depth.

The future of televisions is high-definition three-dimensional TVs since they seek to stem a slide in prices and re-energize a market which has been slowed by recession.

The gravest problem faced by the companies is right in front of them- viewers will need to wear the large ill-fitting glasses because the screen would look blurry without them.

The price tag on the special accessories of 3-D systems- special television screens, glasses and Blu-ray DVD players- could also discourage all but home theatre buffs.

Neither Sony nor Panasonic has yet released a price for their 3-D range. Panasonic said that market research has shown that the 50-inch model might sell for as much as $2,000.

The results of a poll conducted among the research firm In-Stat found that 64 percent of respondents expressed at least some interest in watching 3-D programming in the comfort of their homes and 25 percent said that they would not spend more than the regular TV price.

David Gibson, the head of research at Macquarie Capital Securities, “From a consumer experience standpoint, I am skeptical, because I can’t see consumers sitting at home wearing glasses”.