In 1998 HDTV was introduced; this was followed by Bluray eight years later in 2006. Fast forward to the second decade of the 21st century, and those technologies are all but redundant, with vast amounts of online video consumed instead. This is partly due to innovations in devices and innovations in online streaming services.
No one could have predicted the advancement of video technology; it seemed to progress naturally from online content culture and then take over, mainly due to its immediacy and versatility. Still, there should be a limit on what video can offer as a medium, so does it have a prosperous future?
What is video doing today?
Since 2020, online video has become the most popular form of media consumption and far more popular than traditional forms such as television and redundant DVDs. On average, people watch 16 hours of video content per week and a billion hours of daily video.
Several factors have influenced this shift to online video and away from traditional forms of media. Firstly, 5G data technology allows better streaming, and mobile internet is widely available – it makes it far easier to consume video content. This trend is set to continue.
The demand for online streaming
It’s not hard to see why video and online streaming has boomed in recent years. New generations of internet users prefer the immediacy of video technology, and improvements and innovations further support the medium. As a result, a website like YouTube has grown exponentially and influenced a variety of streaming sites like Netflix.
As one website grows, others follow, which is certainly true of Netflix. This platform has virtually replaced conventional television and inspired businesses like Disney to take their operation online as well. At present, the live streaming industry is dominating the media landscape, a trend that’s set to continue and innovate.
The future of video technology
But where can video technology go in the future? After all, there is only so much that can be accomplished with the medium, so where is the potential for growth? The answer lies with the technology itself, with video server software and with the ways it is being used. For example, online video can improve its resolution, pixels, frame rates and immersion capabilities.
There are also possibilities in the way that video is used for entertainment and advertising. Streaming services will only grow and become more sophisticated, so too are the divergent media capabilities of vlogging and video enterprise. As with written content, the quality of video journalism and marketing will only grow more sophisticated.
VR and AR technology
Virtual reality and augmented reality are technologies that have been in the works for some time. They are occasionally used for gaming, apps, and sometimes advertising, but they have yet to take off and find their home in the world of technology. However, that could change with the rise of video, which can offer VR and AR a popular existing platform for growth.
These technologies offer more potential for immersion and entertainment, but they also provide developers and storytellers with more options to create innovative features to engage and enhance the experience of new audiences. VR and AR will also be useful for education and gaming going forward.