If you're confused by the jargon surrounding 3D TV - don't worry. Just read on and we'll take you through the basics simply.

Conventional TV displays objects only in 2D - or two dimensions.

3D TV displays objects in three dimensions, or stereography, and so mimics human sight. Because our eyes are spaced apart, they see the same view from a slightly different perspective. The brain combines the two perspectives into one image - and it is this process that 3D TV imitates.

When shooting 3D, two lenses are used to capture separate images of the same object from different angles. The 3D images contain twice as much information as conventional 2D images, and are edited while maintaining the information from both angles.

As you view 3D pctures, the left-hand image is shown only to your left eye, and the right-hand image only to your right eye. Your brain combines the two images, to give you a perception of depth.

In this way, 3D TV gives you an illusion of the third dimension, displaying the natural depth and presence of the real world. It brings pictures to life so that some images seem to 'pop' out of the screen.

This technology means you can enjoy movies, video games and TV shows in 3D - all from the comfort of your own home.

There are two main kinds of 3D system. Each requires a 3D TV and 3D glasses.

The active shutter system, also known as 'frame sequential display':

The passive 3D system: 

These glasses use polarised images to create the 3D effect.

Every 3D TV requires glasses to produce a 3D effect.

For 3D Blu-ray, you'll need a 3D capable Blu-ray player. While your existing Blu-ray player will be able to play 3D discs, they will only play back in standard 2D format.

And if you want to play video games in 3D, you'll need a 3D enabled games console.

A 3D TV needs a minimum refresh rate of 120Hz (that's 60Hz displayed for each eye). The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the 3D effect.

'No-glasses' 3D TV, also known as 'true 3D' or autostereoscopic TV, is the ultimate aim of all 3D TV manufacturers.

Although prototypes do exist for 3D TVs you can watch without glasses, there are to date severe limitations on the technology. For example, viewing angle and distance are severely restricted. As a result, they have a narrow 'sweet spot' and don't yet work with multiple viewers.

It's a catch-all phrase that really means '3D capable'. Just as new high definition TVs were marketed as 'HD ready', so TVs capable of showing 3D images are often described as '3D ready'.

Most of this content is disc-based - 3D Blu-ray movies and 3D DVDs. To watch these, you'll need both a compatible TV and 3D player.

Various entertainment networks have launched 3D programmes, and the range and choice of these are expanding with demand for 3D technology.

All 3D TVs represent flagship models from their respective manufacturers, which means that 2D viewing will be top quality. The 3D is just another feature of the TV, so you'll only need to put on glasses to view 3D content.

3D technology doesn't sacrifice 2D image quality, so even if you plan to watch most of your viewing in 2D, you shouldn't think twice about buying a 3D TV.

HDMI is the preferred choice to hook up your 3D TV to a 3D Blu-ray player or satellite or cable box with 3D capability. Seek out an HDMI 1.4 cable - the latest generation of the connection standard that supports all variations of 3D as well as 2D High Definition and high speed transmission - in both directions - of internet data.

Different Plasma 3D TVs and LCD 3D TVs have their own unique merits. Picking the right one is as much about what you want to watch, how you want to watch it and what size screen you want to watch it on, as it is about the different technologies involved.

Refresh rates

Viewing angle

Brightness

3D gaming and computing