The evolution of the humble home television is often something we take for granted. Starting with the heavy, boxy, and simple CRT TVs that many of us grew up with, televisions have developed into powerful systems with huge feature sets at low costs. It’s taken a long time to reach this point, but it also makes us wonder what might come next. Looking at the current trajectory and technological limitations, we want to predict the future of TVs for our entertainment uses, and the effect they’ll have on our experiences.
Stronger Software Prowess
Arguably the most impressive part of modern TVs is their smart functionality, which comes from their software, with smart TV features such as browsers an example of these software developments. In the future, this technology will expand into offering much more interactive entertainment experiences. One possible example could be expansion of the online games onto smart TVs, such as bingo games. Currently, people are able to access bingo offer with bonus and special features like free spins and cash prizes on their laptops or mobile devices. What if they could do that on their TVs, with native apps, as well? The next step could also be software that allows people to play casino games directly on smart TVs. This expansion could be aided by the iGaming industry itself, which has facilitated similar moves from PC to smartphones and tablets.
Better software could also open up the number of apps and level of customisation that could become standard on smart TV systems. With paired Bluetooth keyboards and mice as already offered on some systems, it could one day be standard for a smart TV to offer similar potential to a low-budget laptop or PC. As the hardware which supports the software continues to improve, work apps would be a natural fit here, extending televisions beyond entertainment alone.
Better Mobile Integration
With improved software and hardware would also come streamlined potential to pass content between mobiles and TVs. This can already be managed with many apps through account linking and screen mirroring software, but current solutions are somewhat clunky and poorly supported. System-wide support for mobile connectivity could improve functionality enormously, letting us use a mobile as something like an advanced remote control. From basic TV control, to sharing what we’re laughing at with friends and family members, there’s a lot left to explore here.
Diminishing Returns in Visuals
Ever since the age of HD TV, televisions have been competing to offer extra special features like higher resolutions and HDR. Such elements have been impressive in the past, but they’ve now reached a point where expensive new upgrades are increasingly indistinguishable from what came before. This is already the case with 8K displays over 4K, and it will likely soon be the case for high-quality HDR support.
What this hopefully means is that improving manufacturing technology will result in lower costs to users, but it also might manifest in seeking improvements that aren’t essential. Higher refresh rates, for example, are very useful in PC monitors but aren’t advantageous for most TV uses.
The one big takeaway from all this potential for the future is that the suite of entertainment features and options available from the televisions of tomorrow will only improve. Whether you’re catching up on old classics or using your TV for writing work emails during commercial breaks, there’s a lot left on the table to explore!