Most people will be quite familiar with 3D televisions. Whereas conventional televisions are only two dimensional, the 3D technology enables viewers to watch movies and television in a third dimension. By wearing special goggles a viewer will get the illusion of depth within television.
This 3D technology is quite revolutionary on its own. A viewer is getting the feeling that objects on screens are coming directly out of the TV. So you might wonder what can be left to experience?
Researches in Korea have announced the newest revolution within the media industry, which is the 4D television. The TV is able to stimulate more senses than just sight and sound. You will actually feel what’s going on in the screen – you will be immersed in it.
Many theatres have incorporated this technology by adding features like moving seats and blowing fans. These features are able to create settings which can’t be obtained by conventional ways of watching movies. Some theatres has gone even so far by incorporating smells into their movies – often with less success than was hoped for. Numerous people have described these movie experiences as ‘intense’.
Nevertheless, the researchers think that this technology will be added unto the newest television releases from big manufactures. If this innovation will hold, it could mean that we will have to buy new devices all over again. A television is a big investment for most people, so the benefits of this technology will have to outweigh the costs.
So will the 4D technology eventually be the next big deal after 3D? If you ask me, I highly doubt it. It seems like a very unnecessary feature which is even experienced as negative by many viewers. However, technology never stands still for too long, so chances are that 4D could potentially take over the media industry.
Sources used:
http:///www.3dtvmagazine.nl/2011/04/koreaanse-onderzoekers-onthullen-eerste-4d-.tv
http:///www.npr.org/2014/09/28/352261469/movie-theaters-hope-to-add-another-dimension-to-their-profits
Hah, good subject. I hated the experience of ‘smelling what you’re seeing’ at a recent experience. It just doesn’t feel right. However, I also had close to the same opinion with 3D in movies. I just didn’t see why we needed this. Until I saw the movie HUGO, in which 3D breathed life into everything on screen. Was it better than the 2D version? I honestly don’t know, but I felt that 3D really added ‘something’.
Although I wouldn’t want a future where everything on screen, can also be smelled, I do think that with the right content (Darn, cooking shows are going to be amazing) this feature can be really cool. If I have the possibility of choice, where I can disable it whenever I want, I’m all for these new things.
The problem is probably going to be that this new technology is going to be spoon-fed to us as much as possible. Think 3D and cinema again, some movies are 3D only at my local cinema. Without it actually adding something, that is mostly a distraction for me. Maybe I just need to adept to it?
These features are all technologically great and stuff, but it’s really how these things are used, that can create value from it. In this case, I think it’s a good thing the hardware allows for these features to be used, but it is up to the creators of content to use it to its fullest potential. I just hope not everything is going to be 4D by default because it can be. But hey, we’ll see how that turns out.
Hi Brenda!
I share your opinion on the 4D TV. However, you are saying that technology is never standing still for too long and that the 4D TV might have the potential to take over the media industry. This feature is heading in the wrong direction in my opinion.
I believe that the smell feature on the 4D TV is highly unnecessary. The reason for this is that most popular programs (other than cooking programs) that are watched on TV (such as series) cannot benefit from this feature. This is simply because their content is not centered on smell. Even for the programs that do manage to implement this feature, it wouldn’t attract the consumers for very long. I remember when we got a 3D TV at home. It was fun and exciting at first, but after multiple uses I would rather watch TV without the glasses. The same goes for 4D TV’s. I believe that the market for the 4D TV is too small and that consumers will not be willing to make the switch to this TV since it will most likely be very costly.
I don’t see much future in 4D for cinemas either. The addition of smell is even in a cinema setting very unnecessary for me and definitely not worth the extra cost for a ticket.
The 4D experience might be fun as a “one-time-thing”, but that is about it.
Hi Brenda!
Thanks for your post. Although 4D television may be new, I believe the concept of an ‘all-inclusive’ show has been around longer. Reading this reminded me of a vacation I had at Disneyworld (I believe) years ago. The attraction was a 3D movie, but it also incorporated smell and touch (e.g. mist) into the show. I personally think that it’s more enjoyable for children than for adults (maybe also supported by the fact that many view it negatively), which is why I agree with you that it is unlikely 4D takes over 3D – or at least not in the near future.
Hi Brenda!
What an interesting topic. I couldn’t agree more with you, and I think that the smell feature is an unneccesary one. I am great fan of Discovery Channel and I don’t think I would like to watch these programs with this new feature.
Futhermore, I think that besides the fact that this technology is unneccesary, another problem will be that you have to have content to display on these TV’s. Directors of films need to add smells to their scripts and films and series that have been made already, need to add certain smells to their current movies/series. I think that it is even a bigger problem to get directors to produce content for these movies.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading your blog, thanks!