Waves of Innovation in Technology

The world of technology is changing faster than the speed of light. Over one 24-hour period, it seems we've heard about five new app launches, three new TV models, and an entirely new product debuting from one of the top tech companies. Following suit, we have blog posts, news articles, podcasts, and Reddit threads publishing left and right, minute after minute, with commentary on these innovations from users worldwide. Maybe ChatGPT can help sort it out.

American Consumers and Technology

Before we dive into the specifics, it's important to note the scale and influence of technology on the average American consumer today.

• The average American has 24 pieces of electronics/technology in their home. 
• Per year, the average American spends roughly $1,500 on new technology. *This is increasing as tech and devices advance.
• The nation's tech retail revenue for 2023 is estimated at $485 billion.
• The U.S. tech market reached a market value of $1.8 trillion by December 2022.
• Over 264,000 new technology jobs were added/created in 2022.
• The U.S. technology market alone accounts for 35% of the world market.

For context, the Pew Research Center estimates that there were roughly 12.2 million employees in the tech field in 2020, compared to a mere 3.9 million just eight years prior. Technological innovations diffuse more rapidly into society when they come to the market. It took 75 years from the invention of the phone to become a part of society. At the same time, it took Pokemon Go 19 days to accomplish the same consumer use!

Sound Innovation

Sound technology has had a bit of a slower diffusion into the marketplace. Perhaps this is because we can't see sound? But, if you ever wonder about or doubt the importance of sound, watch a silent movie, then a film made before stereo sound, and then switch to a recent Dolby Atmos movie. 

Innovation in Televisions

For most modern-day families, the television is the living room's focal point. Furniture is placed so that every seat can have eyes on the TV. That is, unless you're on one of HGTV's countless home decor shows where there's never a television! What's up with that?!

The television concept has been around since the early 1800s with the invention of the telegraph, followed by the telephone in 1876. Fast forward to the late 1920s. We have the prototype of what we'd consider a "true television," along with the first transatlantic television transmission between London and New York.

It took roughly another 30 years for the concept of the television to stick, and by 1955 nearly half of all American households owned a TV set. As the number of consumers grew, so did the variety of channels and broadcasts. At the close of the decade, television had outperformed radio. It thus became the No. 1 source of entertainment in the American household.

Since then, the possibilities of television have expanded far beyond what anyone could have imagined. According to a 2016 Washington Post article, it was estimated that there were as many TVs as humans in the U.S.; we can only imagine this gap has increased since. Today, the average American household has 2.8 TVs, and just 19% of U.S. households have only one television. Further, the average U.S. household has 7.3 screens.

Also noteworthy is the ratio of cable versus streaming-only viewers; almost half of American households do not have a cable or satellite box and rely solely on digital and streaming services for their entertainment. In 2022, Bob Iger, Disney's off-again, on-again CEO, was famously quoted saying that linear TV is dead. 52.3% of all TV viewing is digital/streaming. So, linear TV isn't finished but it's heading there quickly.

Innovation in Content and Audio Technology

With an increasing percentage of households tuning in via streaming platforms, the quality of content and our devices have improved exponentially in the last several years. Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max are regularly debuting series and movies in 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos. These next-generation tech advancements are changing the game for at-home entertainment, but only for those with compatible devices.

If you're searching for a new TV, you'll likely stumble across devices with 4K resolution. This has become the standard recently, although a few 720p or 1080p options still exist. The same cannot be said for sound systems.

Variety in the sound system market is extreme. You'll find options for $100 or less and others for $1,000 or more, so investing in a system that can provide for all of your streaming and entertainment needs is critical. You may save a few hundred dollars with the cheaper option, but you are investing in vastly different technology. As we mentioned, streaming content is more highly produced than ever before, and audio from our favorite series and movies is now being delivered more regularly in Dolby Atmos. So naturally, now's the time to invest in a system with Dolby Atmos functionality. If you are not aware of the superior benefits of Dolby Atmos or how to pick the right Dolby Atmos system, please refer to our previous blogs.

With Platin Audio, bringing Dolby Atmos and surround sound entertainment into your home has never been easier. Our state-of-the-art systems are sleek, powerful, and affordable, combining the quality of Platin with the high-tech functionality of WiSA and the WiSA SoundSend. WiSA (Wireless Speaker and Audio Association) technology is a wireless audio standard that offers several benefits over other wireless audio technologies. Here are some reasons why WiSA technology is considered superior: 

• High-Quality Audio: WiSA technology supports high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, superior to Bluetooth audio. WiSA technology can deliver high-quality audio with minimal distortion, ensuring an immersive audio experience.
• Multi-Channel Audio: WiSA technology can transmit up to 8 channels of audio wirelessly, making it ideal for use with home theater systems. This means that users can enjoy surround sound audio without using messy wires.
• Low Latency: WiSA technology has low latency, which means a minimal delay between the audio and video signals. This is essential for home theater systems, ensuring that audio and video are perfectly synced.
• Interference-Free: WiSA technology operates in the 5GHz frequency range, which is less congested than the 2.4GHz frequency used by other wireless technologies. This means less interference, resulting in a more reliable and stable wireless connection.

As the industry continues to evolve, so do we. We're always on the cusp of the latest technological advances and commit to our customers to continue delivering and developing top-quality and next-level technology that keeps them on the cutting edge. By investing in a Platin Audio surround sound system for your home, you're saying yes to being a leader in home entertainment technology for years to come. 

Innovation in Cellular 

The presence of Dolby and the use of Dolby Atmos is becoming a regular occurrence in today's modern society, with movement into the automotive industry (which we'll cover later) and mobile devices. We know you, the average consumer, is most often on the go, so it makes sense that streaming on the go, and a preference for higher quality video and audio on mobile devices, has expanded in recent years. 

A select few mobile devices currently on the market have Dolby Atmos audio functionality. Still, most of the industry is on the cusp of this next wave of innovation. The science, understanding, infrastructure, and, most importantly, demand are there; we're just waiting for the final execution. 

Like in the home theater, Dolby Atmos in mobile devices creates an immersive experience for the listener by capitalizing on a phone's four small speakers to mimic an entire sound arena. Using the science of psychoacoustics and the processing power of Atmos, developers can craft Dolby Atmos mobile experiences to replicate the natural way the human ear receives and perceives sound. As this technology advances, consumers can expect a higher-quality experience when streaming on mobile devices and a better understanding of how this translates to listening via headphones. 

Innovation in Automotives

Much like cellular, the expansion of Dolby Atmos into automobiles does exist, yet selectively. Mercedes and Volvo have announced the addition of Dolby Atmos functionality in a select few of their latest models, including the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, and the EQS SUV. For Volvo, immersive Dolby Atmos audio will be featured in their brand-new, fully electric Volvo EX90 SUV.

"The Volvo EX90 SUV will be outfitted with a 25-speaker high-end surround sound system from Bowers & Wilkins, including four additional headrest speakers and four 3-D speakers that emit sound from above. Both drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy an immersive entertainment experience in Dolby Atmos, wherever they go." Professional.Dolby.com

As Curt Behlmer, Technology Consultant for Universal Music Group, stated, "The car is the perfect environment for Dolby Atmos Music, second only to recording studios."

We're sure to see the continued expansion of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Music in automobiles in the coming months and years, an exciting revolution for us as consumers as we advance through the digital age. 

Stay Ahead with WiSA and Platin

A simple way to stay ahead of the curve is to invest in a Dolby Atmos® sound system now. We're on the cusp of an Atmos revolution in broadcast, sports, and events (basically all entertainment content as we know it). So by investing in a high-quality system with next-generation features like the Monaco 5.1.2 with WiSA SoundSend, you'll be ready for action as soon as the features debut.

There's no end in sight to the wave of innovation in technology, which is an exciting but overwhelming concept! You can stay ahead of the curve by investing in Platin Audio, backed by WiSA. Our technology and product lines remain at the forefront of innovation, and our latest launch—Monaco 5.1.2 with WiSA SoundSend—is the perfect display of that commitment. Monaco unlocks every detail of today's highly produced streaming and digital content to create an unmatched experience for the home viewer. Plus, our system is the first to feature true Dolby Atmos upfiring speakers. Hello, innovation! With one of our surround sound systems in your home, you'll be experiencing high-quality audio from the content you're already paying for and enjoying your favorite shows and movies in a whole new way.

Dolby Atmos and Dolby Atmos Music are what's next for tech. Are you ready? Upgrade today with a system from Platin, available to shop at platinaudio.us.