Entertainment Technology Today
An Industry in Transition
Many entertainment technology participants lament the changing nature of the industry. The impact of technology, contemporary societal priorities and commercial reality is redefining opportunity and bringing a cultural change to the sector, that is alienating some industry stalwarts. The continuing evolution of software and interface has meant, once unique industries now share common technologies and platforms. Therefore, many industries look similar in terms of equipment and workflow, and will continue to do so. We will wrap up the narrative with a brief example, but first, a reminder of where we have come from, whilst also endeavouring to rationalize the current landscape.
A high proportion of entertainment technology manufacturers, distributors, and service providers, are from the baby boomer generation (people born from 1946 to the mid 1960’s). They grew up in an analogue environment where aside from print media and personal interaction, the primary source of entertainment, communication and information, came from audio mediums, including radio, record players, audio tape, and landline telephone systems, with each sector possessing a unique personality. However, as television and digital technology evolved, ensuing generations had increasing access to visual entertainment, communication and information options. From a sensory perspective, visual mediums are easier to access and engage with than the aural. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that visual mediums would ultimately drive a number of technological streams.
The feeling that the entertainment technology industry has lost its personality and become more homogenous may well be the case, but so too has the world we live in. However, there will always be a place for highly skilled organizations and individuals with demonstrable product and service understandings and a clientele seeking high standards over convenience and robotic support. As for declining commercial activity, whilst it may appear to be the case, we suggest it is more to do with increasing technology streams and industries morphing together, resulting in a changing landscape and blurred boundaries. In our space today, you will notice organizations using many and varied phrases to describe their activities such as Digital Media Technology (DMT) and Information & Communication Technology (ICT), to name but a few.
As an example, and by virtue of its data distribution role, Audio/Visual and Infrastructure Integration is increasingly being subsumed by the Information and, (to a lesser degree) Communication Technology sectors, delivering a noticeable industry cultural change. Whilst it is difficult to make a market size assessment, we would suggest commercial activity is stable and even increasing, but the sector will confront challenges moving forward given a number of realities including software assuming the role once performed by hardware.
In an ever changing and increasingly homogenous world, resistance is not futile, be happy, be yourself.
All the best
Frank Hinton
President
ACETA
A high proportion of entertainment technology manufacturers, distributors, and service providers, are from the baby boomer generation (people born from 1946 to the mid 1960’s). They grew up in an analogue environment where aside from print media and personal interaction, the primary source of entertainment, communication and information, came from audio mediums, including radio, record players, audio tape, and landline telephone systems, with each sector possessing a unique personality. However, as television and digital technology evolved, ensuing generations had increasing access to visual entertainment, communication and information options. From a sensory perspective, visual mediums are easier to access and engage with than the aural. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that visual mediums would ultimately drive a number of technological streams.
The feeling that the entertainment technology industry has lost its personality and become more homogenous may well be the case, but so too has the world we live in. However, there will always be a place for highly skilled organizations and individuals with demonstrable product and service understandings and a clientele seeking high standards over convenience and robotic support. As for declining commercial activity, whilst it may appear to be the case, we suggest it is more to do with increasing technology streams and industries morphing together, resulting in a changing landscape and blurred boundaries. In our space today, you will notice organizations using many and varied phrases to describe their activities such as Digital Media Technology (DMT) and Information & Communication Technology (ICT), to name but a few.
As an example, and by virtue of its data distribution role, Audio/Visual and Infrastructure Integration is increasingly being subsumed by the Information and, (to a lesser degree) Communication Technology sectors, delivering a noticeable industry cultural change. Whilst it is difficult to make a market size assessment, we would suggest commercial activity is stable and even increasing, but the sector will confront challenges moving forward given a number of realities including software assuming the role once performed by hardware.
In an ever changing and increasingly homogenous world, resistance is not futile, be happy, be yourself.
All the best
Frank Hinton
President
ACETA