What is Entertainment Technology: The origins of entertainment technology date back at least to ancient times, when it was used to enhance and automate aspects of theater through the development of instruments and automation by the Alexandrian warriors.
What is Entertainment Technology?
Entertainment technology is the field that uses manufactured or manufactured components to enhance or enable entertainment experiences of any kind. Because the entertainment sector is diverse and there are many different entertainment models around the world, the technologies used come from many different sources. Entertainment technology helps people relax and enjoy their free time. Modern technology has revolutionized everyday entertainment.
For example, in a theater, an entertainment technician is involved in the design and construction of backstage areas, installing electrical systems, making costumes, using motors if there is automated backstage equipment, and plumbing equipment (if it is a working kitchen area). is necessary). or “When You Sing”). in the rain”).
Popular entertainment technology began with Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph. It is used for sound recording and playback. Old methods such as recording records, tapes, and CDs have made music more accessible around the world. Cinema is brought into the living room through photos, films, and videos. With the advent of computer technology, entertainment methods have been greatly optimized.
Top 7 Trends of Entertainment Technology
Below are the top five media and entertainment technologies. Entertainment technology is having a profound impact on the way we consume media and digital entertainment. It refers to the use of technology to create and distribute entertainment experiences such as video streaming, social media, and gaming, including video games and virtual reality headsets. All of this offers new opportunities for companies, content creators, and users.
Media Streaming
Streaming services have taken over the entertainment industry in recent years. From video to music streaming, these services allow users to access a variety of online content. South Africa is currently experiencing a broadcasting boom as more users switch from live TV to video-on-demand content. This was confirmed by a study by comparison website Finder, which found that 56.15% of South African adults use at least one video streaming service. Improving coverage in the country can be achieved through improvements in high-speed connections such as fiber optics.
Social Video
Social media continues to be an important part of entertainment. Recent trends show that social media services rely on user-generated content (UGC), especially social videos. Social video is a huge trend with the incredible growth of TikTok. Other social networks have followed suit and expanded their short video offerings, including Instagram with reels and YouTube shorts, as well as Google, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Virtual and Augmented Reality Technologies
There are great opportunities for digital entrepreneurs to create immersive experiences in the entertainment industry through the use of virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. Although the two technologies share some similarities, they differ in important ways. Virtual reality is an immersive experience in a virtual world that users can interact with, while virtual reality blends virtual reality with real life. Beyond gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality games, this technology is expected to have a major impact on sales and marketing.
Gaming
The sports industry in South Africa is growing and developing slowly. According to a Digital Turbine report, 71% of South African adults play mobile games. It is reported that this growth is mainly due to the increasing availability of smartphones. Other types of games on the market are e-sports, online games where players can play against each other in real-time, and virtual reality (VR) games, which are still in their infancy in South Africa.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are used in the media and entertainment industry to improve user experience. The technology offers everything from personalized recommendations and voice recognition to search optimization (to get search results and suggestions) and media automation. On-demand streaming platforms like Netflix and YouTube make use of these technologies to not only increase content consumption but also increase user engagement.
Immersive Technology
Digitalization, miniaturization of devices, and increase in computing power are also lowering the barrier of entry to immersive technology, promoting its use for both commercial and personal purposes. Entertainment companies are leveraging immersive technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) to create engaging content and experiences for users. Smart devices also offer new opportunities to implement immersive experiences. Other hardware solutions make immersive solutions more portable and easier to implement.
oARo Studio develops Object Tracking Cameras
French startup oARo Studio develops EZtrack, a modular object-tracking camera solution for virtual production. It is a compact system that provides accurate tracking and is compatible with any camera type as well as multi-camera setups. EZtrackreads zoom and focus data from a wide range of digitally encoded lenses as well as prime lenses. It makes it easier for studios to track and record people or objects when creating 3D media.
Blue Ring Imaging creates Mixed Reality Interfaces
US-based startup Blue Ring Imaging provides mixed reality hardware and software tools to teleoperate underwater vehicles. Its system features a multi-lens camera that provides 360 3D streaming with software that performs sensor fusion for AR and VR functionality. Besides this, it contains intelligent multimodal interaction software for voice, gesture, and eye tracking. The startup’s solution collects 3D data for movie productions as well as entertainment broadcasts.
AdTech Entertainment Technology
Advertising companies are adopting advancements in technologies such as AR and VR to create more entertaining ads. This is further amplified by the upward trend in e-commerce. Moreover, the shrinking patience of consumers means that unlike before typical video ads do not attract attention. This is why startups are creating interactive ads that allow users to interact with them via video or with AR or VR. These technologies not only reduce the possibility of viewers skipping ads but also directly improve revenue generation.
The database creates Outdoor AR-based Ads
US-based startup Database creates location-based outdoor AR-based ads. Its AR ad formats are quick, simple, and cost-effective and use existing digital assets with templates for immersive experiences. The ads augment new and existing outdoor media. In addition to proving interactivity through mobile devices, it integrates wayfinding and map-based functions to direct viewers to nearby stores. This improves sales conversion through the gamification of ads.
Odeeo offers In-Game Audio Advertising
Israeli startup Odeoo develops an ad platform for non-intrusive in-game audio advertising and experiences. Game studios only need to provide a script while the platform handles the recording, sound, mixing, and producing. It also analyzes the average revenue per daily active user (ARPDAU). It provides game developers with a transparent way to monetize and measure user engagement, enabling them to create more engaging games.
Discover all Entertainment Technologies Trends & Startups
The increasing adoption of the metaverse and immersive technologies is reinventing the entertainment industry. With changing preferences, consumers now spend more on entertainment such as streaming services, esports, and mobile gaming. In the years to come, entertainment technologies will continue to make these services more interactive and engaging.
The Entertainment Trends & Startups outlined in this report only scratch the surface of trends that we identified during our data-driven innovation and startup scouting process. Among others, experiential audio, immersive gaming, and metaverse will transform the sector as we know it today. Identifying new opportunities and emerging technologies to implement into your business goes a long way in gaining a competitive advantage. Get in touch to easily and exhaustively scout startups, technologies & trends that matter to you!