I found an issue of the "Cinema Papers" from 1983! It contains a contemporary and well researched article about the history and future of the stereoscopic film. I just want to share this with you, because one can see many parallels between the stereoscopic history and the development today.
Many thanks to the original author - Fred Harden.
The history of stereoscopy shows us that technical benefits won't safe stereo. Therefore one should not be so ignorant to say "Stereo is going to stay this time, because of the digital cinema". Of course the digital age makes it much easier to provide the audience with a good projection and well matched images. Also the corrections, which are now possible in post production ensure a much better stereoscopic experience with less disturbances. However people already had invented polarization filters and even lenticular systems in the 30's and 40's! Still cinemascope has replaced stereoscopy in the 50's, because it's easier to achieve and likewise attracts audiences.
I don't think that in future everything will be shown in stereo, although this would be a completion of the film medium. Stereoscopy is too complicated and work intensive for a daily broadcast. There are so many things that can go wrong and cause a bad experience. So it's better to have a few very good stereo presentations instead of awful movies daily.
One should also ask "why" you want to have everything in S3D. A stereoscopic newscast in stereo won't give me much more information than the flat one. It's also nice to keep something in plain 2D space - like info graphics or websites, because they can be easier to understand. In my opinion normal movies (flatties) and stereoscopic films will exist simultaneously, because both forms have their benefits. Creating depth in a flat picture - like it's done in oil paintings, photographs and many great movies of the past - is also an art form the audience will value and enjoy very much in the future.
I think stereoscopic movies will always be used for exclusive events like cinema, gaming, sports and concerts. Maybe the new approach of "stereoscopic storytelling" and the philosophy of "do not harm" is the key for stereo to stay in the movies this time...
In the gaming industry stereoscopy may become a standard, as it comes basically for free. It is also very easy to provide good stereo for individuals with single view displays. But you won't have that much "stereoscopic storytelling" in games as in the movies, because changing depth would irritate the user. So at the moment stereoscopy only enhances the 3D perception, but doesn't extend the game play very much. This means that stereo could be replaced by immersive reality one day, because this can involve the gamer much more and evolve into a full virtual experience.
But read for yourself and build your own opinions!
Also feel free to criticize me in the comments.
Cinema Papers, issue 43, May-June 1983; pp.134
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