The days of clunky TV sets with long antennas sprouting from the top are over, but the TV we’re familiar with today will be undergoing a lot of changes as well. Just like the transitions to flat screens and higher definition have been amazing, more developments will enhance the TV watching experience. Some recently released but little known technology can make TV a whole new experience for viewers. There are a lot of projects in the works that will further improve television.
3D TV
Many people don’t realize that 3D TV is already a reality, but if you purchase a TV with 3D capabilities and a pair of snazzy 3D glasses, you can watch images come to life. While you can view many types of shows in 3D, certain channels and programs are even more exciting.
One of the biggest perks of 3D TV is its potential for sports viewing. Sports programming is already immensely popular, and people who watch sports tend to get really into the games. Other than actually being at the game, what better way is there to get closer to the game and feel like you’re watching it all unfold live?
Upcoming developments in 3D TV technology may make 3D viewing even more convenient and entertaining. New technology called autostereoscopy would eliminate the need for special glasses to view 3D content. It’s still in the early stages, but is definitely something the future holds that will revolutionize 3D viewing.
TV Without Receivers
Almost everyone at least knows somebody with a satellite or a cable box. Receivers allow for great features like thousands of channels and on-demand viewing, so you can easily find and watch your favorite shows.
Imagine being able to watch HD programming on every TV and have access to DVR functionality on every TV, all without a receiver? Forget satellites and cable boxes and all of the issues that come along with them. While this might seem too good to be true, it’s actually in the works and could be released in the very near future!
Using RVU technology, DIRECTV is finishing up field testing on its Home Media Center, which will allow content to be streamed to any TV in the house without the use of any sort of receiver. All of the programming comes from a server and is sent directly to the screens in people’s homes.
Social TV
All kinds of industries have already taken advantage of what social sites can do in terms of marketing and increasing the popularity of their products and services. Television has recently picked up the trend, and it will only continue to expand. Some companies allow viewers to access the internet while they’re on TV, which would allow for faster sharing while watching a program.
TV’s interested in the social realm because of its potential to attract more television viewership. When friends actively discuss which shows they’re watching and share opinions about what they saw, they’re encouraging others to watch as well to keep up with the conversations.
The future most likely holds more for social advancements relating to television. Developers have been searching for better and easier ways for viewers to share their television experiences with others. For example, GetGlue and DIRECTV recently launched a service allowing subscribers to share what they’re watching with their friends via an application, which transitions to the next point.
TV Apps
Everyone these days is obsessed with phone apps and even computer apps. So why hasn’t television jumped on the bandwagon? Well, it has, and if you’ve been out of the loop so far, there are all kinds of great apps waiting for you to access more via your television screen.
Many providers are hosting large app stores with hundreds of apps to choose from, including gaming (which are typically the most popular), news, and popular web service apps. Most of them can be easily accessed by using the remote or selecting the applications through a menu.
It’s already possible to check the weather and the most updated football scores without causing people to miss the best part of their shows. Just like apps for smartphones and computers generated a ton of users, TV will probably experience an increasing growth as well. The potential use of HTML5 for TV apps would make it easier for developers to produce and easily update them, regardless of which platform is hosting the app.
Conclusion
Advancements in technology, developments in social communication, and emphasis on customization have all made huge impacts on the evolution of television and its use. TV technology will continue to grow and change as audiences stress new and more important priorities and preferences.
