10G, the broadband network soon delivering superfast symmetrical internet speeds, has the potential to transform how we live, work, learn and play. Exciting advancements mean that entertainment technologies once the stuff of science fiction are now coming to reality, like holograms and virtual reality.
NCTA partnered with the Future Today Institute (FTI), experts in researching trends and calculating how they will disrupt business, government and society, to imagine what some cutting-edge changes might look like with 10G. The resulting report honed in on four areas: entertainment, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
How will entertainment be transformed?
New technologies will allow storytellers to bring audiences even deeper into their worlds, combining practical and virtual effects to make the drama even more impactful.
Augmented Reality
Symmetrical gigabit speeds will support lightning-fast processing in the cloud, enabling a world-class entertainment experience in the comfort of home.
- Smart cameras will create spatial maps of their surroundings and overlay digital imagery onto real-life surroundings.
- Responsive, 3D models will interact with audiences, drawing them into the story with their favorite characters.
- New technologies will turn entertainment into an interactive experience, transforming living rooms into stadiums and stages.
Immersive Media
Practical effects combined with clever technologies will be the special ingredient to make entertainment feel real.
- To engage the touch sense, pressurized jets of air will be overlaid with 3D projections, giving a tactile depth to augmented reality.
- Spatial audio will track and react to a viewer’s movements, creating a realistic soundscape to get lost in.
- Scent devices will replicate smells corresponding with media, engaging olfactory elements to round out the experience.
Sports
10G enterprise networks at stadiums as well as at home will connect athletes, fans, coaches, and commentators to enhance the experience for all.
- At a game, fans will be able to see things from the athletes’ perspectives, utilizing wearable technology to bring them closer to the action.
- Speech-to-text functionality will allow fans, coaches, and players to easily communicate even when the roar of the crowd is at its peak.
- Smart fibers in athletes’ uniforms will capture vital data, monitoring the performance and health of players and providing useful information to teams and fans.
As the 10G future gets closer to reality, most Americans already have access to gigabit networks and even faster speeds are just around the corner. To learn more about the ways 10G might impact key industries, the FTI’s complete report is available on 10Gplatform.com.