A huge electronic trade show in Japan seems to have been taken over by 3D screens. Almost all Japan's big-name electronic manufacturers are readying flat-screen TVs that can show high-definition movies and video games in 3-D for launch next year.

CEATEC, which is Japans biggest consumer electronics show, was packed with large 3-D prototypes. Sony and Panasonic have both said they will bring their first models to market next year. Details about what will be available to watch on the new TVs are still sparse, though the companies said they want to begin with movies and games. Currently what is holding up the development is content, some manufacturers moaned.

The companies are working on standards for broadcasts and discs, which may end up as an enhancement of Blu-ray, the high-definition format designed to supersede standard DVDs. Sony plans to release selections from its movie studios soon. Sony said that it will run everything on a standard format so that it can be viewed other companies' TVs as well. Sharp showed off 3-D sets but are waiting until more content and TV broadcasts are available before they set a product launch date.

Most of the technology involves showing two images, one for each eye, that viewed together are seen as a single three-dimensional scene. The new generation of 3-D TVs uses a technology that rapidly flickers between two images, together with electronic glasses that allow each eye to see only one. At the moment the televisions are not cheap. Toshiba is about to release one for $11,000 based on the Cell chip.

Other companies including South Korea's Samsung Electronics and Hyundai have already launched 3-D TVs with lower specifications. Cable stations in Japan broadcast short clips in 3-D a few times each day.