Developing technologies

Consumer products

Consumer products are the use of technology in the home such as camera, editing software, etc, in comparison to professional products. This then allows people to create their own content at home instead of relying on professionals to produce it. For example youtube is a platform where many people can do this. What is good about this product is it allows others to be creative and do their own thing, and also gives the people watching something different to what they would usually get.

Satellite/Cable

The technology and companies behind satellite and cable television are Sky, Virgin and BT and how it gets to individual homes. These allows people to watch different programmes they wouldn't usually get already on the television. A downside of this is that to get things like Sky, BT, etc is that they are subscriptions to get the extra channels, which could be a struggle for some people.

Analogue/Digital

These are the way we watch television and receive the signals, e.g., types of television and compatibility, channels and the digital switchover.


Internet/Interactive

Interactive is the way we as a consumer can interact or manipulate the content that we are watching online and on television. An example of this is on Netflix with a show called Black Mirror which allows the audience to have different options in deciding on what is going to happen in the story. What's good about the product is that it helps the audience feel more included and like they are a part of what is going on, more involved. A downside of systems like these is they can take longer time to develop.

High definition/3D

Having high definition means the viewers are getting sharper and higher picture quality on their screen. Which helps improve the overall look of whatever is being watched. A downside of having higher definition is that it is a little bit more costly than lower resolutions, which not everyone can afford. 3D is available at both home and cinema and it allows audiences to see the screen in a different way that creates the illusion that it is coming out of the screen. A pro of this is that it feels like you are in film or show, etc.

Pay per view

Pay per view is a type of pay television or webcast service by which a viewer can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it. PPV allows viewers to watch live event programs so you can watch it the same time as everyone else and everyone knows what is going on. A pro of this is it allows people to come together to watch these events, which is especially more focused at sporting events where people gather to watch it.

Streaming content

Streaming content is a way of watching TV shows or movies online via a dedicated subscription service. Streaming allows you to watch the content without downloading. Some of the most popular examples of these services are Netflix, Amazon prime, etc. The advantages of this are that it means people can watch what they want to at any time as it is available any time on that website. A downside to this is again it costs money as it is a subscription service.

Digital recorders

Digital recorders are how we watch films through our television instead of cinema, e.g, Lovefilm, Netflix, etc. It allows people to watch all different films that have been released in cinema that are no longer available to watch there but can now watch on these services. Also these platforms sometimes make their own films for example Netflix creates their own original movies, as well as showing cinema releases.