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FROM GETTING TO work via flying car to 3D-printing your dinner, there are a lot of ways that tech could change your life in the future. But how likely would you be to adopt these tech advances, and to make them a part of your daily routines?
We’ve partnered with Volkswagen to create Future Real, a series spotlighting technologies of the future, with a different theme each time. As you read, we’ll ask you to rate how likely you’d really be to give each piece of tech a try.
This week: are you on board with the all-singing, all-dancing entertainment tech of the future?
The anticipation of taking your seat at the cinema with popcorn in hand, or the thrill of singing your lungs out at a concert – these are feelings that’ll never change. But as technology advances, we may be able to experience those feelings in new ways, or more intensely than before.
Entertainment is one industry where new advances in tech are fairly readily accepted – we can see the advantages of streaming on Netflix over clicking through analogue channels, for example. But as time goes on and that tech gets more personalised and more hands-on, will it still be as easy for people to accept into their daily routines?
In the not-too-distant future, you could be streaming a brand-new videogame straight to your eyes or hanging out backstage at a concert without leaving your couch. The entertainment of the future will change how you watch, listen, and play.
Here’s a rundown of four pieces of entertainment tech that are in development or on the way. For each one, we’ve asked you to rate how on board (or not on board) you are.
1. Stand front row at a gig without leaving the house
The virtual reality market was valued at over $11 billion (€10 bn) in 2019, and analysts expect it to grow to almost $90 billion (€82 bn) by 2025 – a massive predicted increase, which gives us an idea of where the future of entertainment is headed.
VR gaming has exploded over the last decade with Oculus, PlayStation, and Valve/HTC each releasing a regular stream of new headsets, each with unique gimmicks and games to get you involved. But VR concerts are still a fairly novel idea, with only a few bands and singers taking the risk with it so far.
Irish band The Script are one of many groups who have recorded a virtual reality concert in partnership with MelodyVR. Fans can watch the show from one of ten “jump spots”, including one viewing point right on the stage with Danny and the lads. Other acts in the wide-ranging Melody VR catalogue include The Who, Niall Horan, Tyga and even the London Symphony Orchestra.
The benefits of a VR concert are hard to deny; you won’t have a bad view, you can change the volume to suit you, there won’t be anyone using Instagram beside you, and probably most important of all – you don’t even have to leave your home.
Of course, arguably the best part about going to a concert is the atmosphere, and the physical feeling of being in a crowd with thousands of others. Sadly that’s the one thing virtual concerts just can’t give you.
2. Not happy with how that TV show ended? Choose a brand new plotline
The idea of interactive storytelling has been around for decades, with choose-your-own-adventure books and videogames being a staple of many childhoods. Now, interactive TV shows or movies which react to your choices are gaining popularity.
Charlie Brooker and the streaming giant Netflix paved the way with Black Mirror’s interactive episode, Bandersnatch, in 2018. Since then, Todd Yellin, vice president of product at Netflix, has confirmed the company is doubling down on the production of interactive content for viewers.
The ability to alter and change the story isn’t just a novelty feature, it also opens up a new way to discuss shows with friends and family. Office cooler chats about the plot twist in a TV show get a whole lot more exciting when no-one in the conversation has experienced the same storyline as you.
The level of work required to make interactive content would explain why we haven’t seen a follow up to Black Mirror’s interactive episode just yet – it’s rumoured to have taken two years to create Bandersnatch.
In the meantime, BBC Technology show Click has added some interaction to the mix, celebrating its 1000th episode with a new instalment allowing viewers to take the lead. As you watch, you click to choose your own route through the programme, picking the topics you’re most interested in.
The almost endless creative possibilities created by interactive content creates guarantee it’s something we’re definitely going to see more of in the future.
3. Play blockbuster-style video games on your daily commute
The videogame industry was worth a staggering $148.8 billion (€135.5 bn) in 2019. It’s not going anywhere, but change is afoot.
The problem right now is that to play games, you generally have to be at home – either in front of your TV playing a console, or at a desk to play PC games.
There are exceptions such as mobile games or the portable Nintendo Switch, but these platforms lack some of the bigger, blockbuster-style experiences only available on PC, PS4, and Xbox.
This is where streaming comes in, allowing you to stream brand new, top-tier games to your phone, tablet, or smart TV.
Google Stadia is the most recent high-profile entry into this market, although it has been hit with criticism over a lack of games and lower quality streaming than was originally promised.
Microsoft’s Project xCloud is perhaps the most promising game-streaming service in the works, and because the games are streaming from the cloud and not from your console, you don’t even need to own an Xbox to use it.
Once you’ve got a good internet connection, you can stream games to your phone (just watch your data usage!).
4. Get all the action in front of your eyes, literally – thanks to AR
Yes, right now VR is still the poster child for futuristic games, movies, and now concerts. But don’t forget about AR, augmented reality.
AR technology doesn’t require your full attention, nor does it cut off your ability to see and hear in the real world as VR does. Curious? Well, if you’ve ever played Pokémon GO, then you’ve already used augmented reality via your smartphone.
Microsoft HoloLens 2 – an augmented reality headset – launched last year, pitched as a slicker, more improved version of the ill-fated Google Glass. The potential uses are endless – although many of them are still in development. Imagine watching a rugby game from the stands while your AR glasses overlay stats and figures, or getting breaking news updates without having to glance at a phone or a TV.
However the headset currently retails at a cool $3500 (€3191), and although monthly instalment options are available, it’s a lot to pay for an entertainment tool.
As far back as 2017, Netflix seemed to be jumping on board with the idea of using augmented reality to allow you to view its content in new ways – with CEO Reed Hastings teasing a contact lens that would let you stream shows directly into your eyes. It hasn’t surfaced yet, but it’s just one avenue AR or “mixed reality” could take through the world of entertainment.
Discover the rest of our Future Real series here.
The future is nearer than you think. Pre-book the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 1st online at Volkswagen.ie/ID.
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Good luck to her. Hopefully some of the other finalists get a chance to launch their ideas as well
It must be awkward carrying that big phone.
People tend to use the same GP because patient history is one of the most important diagnostic elements. Will this be a problem for her model?
It maybe I’ve just been watching too much House…
Ignoreland…..perhaps the patients history could be put into a database and be accessed by the patient using a P.I.N?
For a country the size of Ireland, it should be possible to network the whole system. If I have an injury in donegal then it should be possible for them to access my records even though I’m based in the Midlands.
Email should be a given instead of slow mail when gp’s are writing a referral. Plus text message reminders for out patient appointments.
It’s more complicated than you would imagine to have digital health records.
Way to go girl, good on you great idea
Well done to her. I hope she focuses on Ireland though, not just Dublin.
Best idea I’ve heard of since Google! Go girl!
Who gives out these awards? No website, no App, only an idea. This idea will die in the crib. Taxi drivers in UK are trying to make Uber and Halo illegal. Trying to do the same thing in the medical industry (a hugely regulated industry with powerful unions) is stupid. This lady will be eaten for breakfast. Might work in medical areas that are not regulated, like Chinese medicine. Saying “you go girl” without thinking critically about the idea is really patronising to her.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish we lived in a world where this app would be successful. I am no lover of unions and government regulations, but a business has to work in the real world
i think the idea of the compeition is to win funds to develop,test, launch so those end user products will come. never put the cart before the horse. having an app and a website before having a solid idea with promise never really works, your app and website just sits there doing nothing. i’m sure she has a rough visual prototype, presentation etc of how it works to pitch with.
having said that, i do see problems with the idea itself. GPs as we all know are expensive, “more business for GPs” – cry me a river, canceled appointments is of no loss to GPs, patients reschedule and in many cases theres a cancel fee. Would it mean triple travel expenses for call out fees? A travel expense in GPs terms could be a taxi fare x 3. There are approx 2million medical and GP-visit cards in use here as well. How does it cater for them, and with regarding travel fees. I don’t think the HSE will pay for it no more than old age free travel covers taxi fares. So, back to private customers. If they can afford it then great then thats her target market. I think the fees involved, how many ‘private users’ will sign up for it and of course access to medical records, data security and release of said data would ideas for the app to overcome.
@Alan From an acorn can grow a mighty oak. Ideas are everything.
@patrick, ideas and nothing, implementation is everything. Google didn’t come up with the idea of a search engine, Microsoft didn’t come up with the idea of a computer operating system. Implementation is everything
We need the same for Doctors. I couldn’t even find a reliable site by googling. Doctor app please together with consultancy fee. Thank you.
Good luck to her. I hope that this proposed alternative delivery of healthcare is not a platform for inexperienced professionals (who can’t work in the health system due to recruitment embargo of past few years) to get work. My issue with this is that for some patients who are vulnerable – they may be paying for a service that isn’t top quality. Finally, I look forward to the other 23 applicants proposals to be reported by the journal.
This young lady and her ingenious click clinic app has possibly doubled or trebled the market for the medical professionals offering those services.
Disruptive technology at its most effective!
Well done to her!
Good on ye lass hope it gets taken on.
Is disruptive the new “in-word”?
Have seen this of Twitter and as a fellow physio I see flaws in the business model!! Already websites like what clinic and generally find its more cost effective to invest in google Seo on our own website! But u know what folks fair play to her she is pushing an idea she has into reality!! How many of us have had ideas and never done anything about them!!! My wee bit of advice if the young lady does read this is under promise and over deliver!!
I always worry when I see words like ‘entrepreneur’ and ‘health’ used in the same sentence. That immediately puts me off. But good luck to her and the others too with their inventions.
Unfortunately it’s a zero sum game. There will always be people waiting as long as the health service is understaffed. In fact, it seems unfair that the young tech-savvy people with the app are going to get treatment faster than, and possibly at the expense of, the older people
Well done and best of luck with the idea!
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