How are new technologies affecting the ways in which we watch film

Generation Divide

Throughout the years the new technologies that have been invented such as the iPad or 3D TV has changed the way in which younger generations would watch films.

The new generation can watch films really easily with the option of recording films from television. In a survey from the UK Film Council 14.5% of people would prefer this method rather than 11.1% of people who said that they would watch a film in the cinema.

These new technologies have changed the way both younger and older generations have been watching films. In the survey done by the UK Film Council 15.4% of young people aged between 16-24 years old would prefer to watch their films in the cinema rather than older generation of people aged 55 and over who would want to watch films 21.7%  of them would want to watch their films on television.

But the new technology invented has also given us a variety of ways in which we could watch films. Other ways we could watch films other than watching it in the cinema or television is you could watch it by buying a DVD and also viewing it through video-on demand services such as BBC iPlayer or Film 4oD.

But all the new technology invented for the past 20 years has made older technologies obsolete. Such as VHS and VCR because of the DVD’s being invented. Another technology that has been obsolete is the older generations of television because they are not capable with the new technology being invented such as HD quality picture or digital television which would enable people to watch films in a variety of channels.

Changes in Cinema Viewing

The new technology invented has also increased the way people watch films in the cinema. Before newer technologies have been invented older generations only watch through films in a traditional screen but for the past years traditional screens have either been vanished and converted into a new type of cinema screen such as 3D or IMAX or they have decreased in number.

One of the new technology that has changed the way we watch films is 3D film. 3D film was invented in 1960 and since then there has been an increase in releasing 3D films. In 2010, 28 3D Films has been released and this has generated £241.80 million for that year. It has changed the way films are released. Film Studios such as Warner Brothers, Dreamworks are now interested in releasing their future films in 3D.

Another technology that has also changed the way we watched films is IMAX. IMAX has changed the way films should be shown in cinemas. Which is to have high picture quality and surround sound.

Proliferation of Options

Throughout the years people can only watch films through the cinema, on the television either with a VCR or a DVD player. But now people all over the world are now able to watch films in their portable devices such as iPods, Blackberry’s or Zune. It all began when iPod was invented and iTunes was also created by Apple since then the technology has evolved and since then people can watch films on the go but on a survey done by the UK Film Council, only 1.0% of people legally download the films they watch on their portable devices and 2.5% of people illegally share films online.

Viewers can also consume films through paid video-on demand services such as Lovefilm.com

Viewers used to consume films by just watching it through DVD’s but for the past years there has been an increase in people buying and renting Blu-Ray. This is because Blu-ray has high-definition picture and standard DVD’s could break easily due to scratches while Blu-ray discs are scratch-resistant.

Changes in Home Entertainment

Throughout the years people were only able to watch through the cinema or watching it in their television but since then technology has evolved and since then DVD players have been invented and VHS player have become obsolete because of this.

Since VHS players were invented, the way people watch films in their homes has changed. Not only that the way we watch it has also changed such as the Television. Today  televisions are much bigger, thinner and are energy efficient than the old sets of televisions.

Television is not the only technology that has evolved.  DVD players were also invented and has also become evolved since it was invented many people have preferred to consume film this way. In a survey done by the UK Film Council, 9.0% of people would prefer to watch films this way compared to the new way to watch film Blu-ray in which only 1.9% would only be interested in consuming film this way.