Much like the the current 'could go either way' status of Augmented Reality, 3D (especially online 3D) is poised to explode, if only it can avoid gimmicky marketing long enough to emerge as viable. Well, Jay Jays Dance Off delivers pretty much what you'd expect in the gimmick department, but holy gobs it makes me want to dance my big white ass off.

Aside from dropping fat beats (that's right, I said it), it's mental how the depth ads, well... depth. I know Hollywood is loving the addition of a third visual dimension primarily because they see it as a barrier to piracy. That's valid, but I don't see this stopping with the big-screen Avatar experiences.

I just happened to have a pair of 3D glasses sitting on my desk when I went to the Jay Jays site (seriously, don't even ask), and it occurred to me that the viewing end (the paper spectacles) has changed very little in the many decades since 3D hit the screen... that's good and bad. It's bad, because they're cheap, crappy little devices that make viewers look like knobs. And, it's good for the same reasons (except the knob part).

Unlike Augmented Reality, which will clearly need a game platform or some other major entertainment system to develop wearable viewing devices in order to create a truly new and valuable progression, 3D opens the window to new worlds with very little investment. And, unlike Augmented Reality, brand sponsorship of actual 'paper-ware' devices has more staying power. A logo on the side of the knob glasses might not be a long-term answer, but the bottom line is that they're already here, and the hardware/software shift is underway. Now, it's up to the storytellers to attach 3D to something worth watching on the small screen. In the meantime, let's dance.

Check out the Dance Off at http://danceoff.jayjays.com.au/.