The Future of Entertainment

The Future of Entertainment: Robbie Bach; 1984 UNC Alumnus [Economics]

Mr. Bach presented a great presentation on what the future of entertainment is going to look like and the goals that have been laid out by Microsoft. His main set up was the three different places that changes will be seen: the Customers, the Creators, and the Canvas. It is now common, if not expected, for customers to have multi-screens in their houses. There are now 3-5 televisions per house. Many people can be found both watching television and using their laptops at the same time. We are a more interactive generation; we can be watching Lost while we are on our laptop looking up facts about each character. Microsoft believes that customers will begin to want an integrated system that can incorporate both of these actions seamlessly.

The creators will also have a great freedom of ideas because there are so many different ways that new technology can go. They are continuing to look for ways to combine things like books, music, video, etc. together. A perfect example of the beginning of this combination of these things is the popular game Guitar Hero. Is Guitar Hero a video game or music? The honest answer is that it is a mixture of both. When you play the game you are interacting with your guitar; so it is a video game. But while you are playing the game was are also listening to the music and learning rhythm; so it is music. Many who play this game do not even realize they are combining both of these ideas together because they come together so well.

Along with the creators who come up with the actual software and the approach that they are going to take, there are also the digital artists. Digital art has become more technologically advanced. Those who are working with video game specialist strive to make the most realistic looking characters. Modern art for many in the field has shifted to “video game” or technology art that is tweaked and created with an online art studio after the basic concept is draw out by hand.

The final change is in the canvas. New technologies have called for a great and drastic advancement in our every day products. The mouse is now viewed as a hassle because our technology is becoming more seamless than ever before. Now we are gravitating to Natural User Interfaces (NUIs) such as touch screens, motion sensors, and voice recognition software that allow us to use them much more easily and efficiently. The consumers want these easy to use and convenient technologies and the creators are working hard to make this happen.

All of these new ideas are creating opportunities for everyone. The consumers have the opportunity to basically tell producer what they want in their future products. The producers, the creators and artists, now have an idea of what they are aiming for, and they have the chance to make the newest products with artistic freedom. The business people can market these technologies with specific strategies aimed towards those who will use these products. Mr. Bach was optimistic about the future of entertainment and the involvement of everyone in its creation.