A 2D/3D conversion interface component is configured to override the video processing capabilities associated with a conventional 2D display, re-formatting an incoming 3D video stream into a version compatible with a 2D display while preserving the 3D-type of presentation. An incoming “side-by-side” (SBS) 3D video stream is re-formatted into a “frame sequential” (serialized) format that appears as a conventional video stream input to the 2D display. The interface component also generates as an output a timing signal (synchronized with the converted frames) that is transmitted to a 3D viewing device (e.g., glasses). Therefore, as along as the 3D viewing device remains synchronized with the sequence of frames shown on the 2D display, the user will actually be viewing an interactive 3D video.