What is the AV industry? What are the newest and most decisive AV trends?



Have you ever thought about how audio-visual technology is all around us? You might not have even noticed it, but the AV industry facilitates so many of our most crucial industries. But how much do you know about the AV industry? Do you know that there are current trends within the industry that point towards an exciting future?

If you're scratching your head for the answers, don't worry, you've come to the right place. At Dexon, we like to keep you up to speed with all things AV, so that's why we've compiled this comprehensive guide to the latest and most decisive trends in the AV industry, so you know which technology to invest in.

Today, we'll be discussing what the AV industry is all about and how it's been evolving. We'll then take you through all the latest trends in the industry and what this possibly means for the future of audio-visual technology.

Ready?

What is the AV industry? What is it about?

Before we get into all things trends, it's important that we first iron out the basics. The AV industry is a commercial industry that comprises all things audio and visual equipment and enterprise. When we talk about audio-visual technology, we're referring to the synchronization of audio equipment like speakers and visual equipment like video walls, controllers, processors, and matrix switchers.

The AV industry is valued at over $200 billion and is responsible for all things motion picture, radio, presentations, tv programs, conferencing, live performance, and more. With society becoming more and more reliant on technological means, the industry is estimated to grow to $326 billion by 2026.

As we all withdrew into the confines of our houses during the pandemic, the AV industry came to our aid, ensuring that we could continue working, communicating, and connecting with each other via digital means. Now, as we all adjust to our new normal, the AV industry is facilitating a more flexible approach to working, meaning we can finally bring the office into the comfort of our own homes.

AV industry

How has the AV industry been evolving?

You'd be surprised to hear that we can trace the beginnings of the AV industry all the way back to the 19th century, when Charles Whetstone created the first version of what we now call a microphone all the way back in 1821. Flashing forward to today, of course, it's safe to say that the industry has evolved significantly, and we have the means of communicating via video and voice with the click of a button.

So how exactly has this evolved? Well, you can sum up the evolution of the AV industry with a single term-Integration. Over the last few decades, the AV industry has been finding ways of rolling our audio and visual needs into one, meaning there doesn't need to be an independent outlet for sound or video.

So, how does 1821 compare to 2022? Well, we now have the ability to stage live concerts over video games, attend live theater from the comfort of our living rooms, and step into the impossible with VR and AR.

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What are the most decisive AV industry trends nowadays?

Like all commercial industries, the AV industry follows trends, and those trends create big waves in the future of how we communicate. So, now that we have the basics out of the way, let's talk about some of the most decisive AV industry trends that we have in 2022:

1.    Improvement in Wifi technology

We all seemingly think that Wifi is pretty two-dimensional, but anyone with thick walls and slow broadband speed will tell you that advancement in Wifi technology is well overdue.

In the most recent decade, many of us migrated to 802.11ac routers for the newest and fastest Wifi speeds that we could get our hands on. This technology had the ability to receive data at hundreds of Mbps a second. But now, the world of Wifi is changing.

To accommodate the need for instantaneous data, Wifi is now moving into the Wifi 6 phase. These 802.11ax routers came into use in mid to late 2020 and now allow us to connect to even more devices with far fewer delays with lower latency.

Wifi

2.    Advancements in LED and OLED technologies

LED technology has been around for a while, but OLED is still relatively young in comparison. However, both have experienced a drastic change in recent years. Just as a refresher, an LED is a type of light-emitting diode that lights up when an electrical current runs through it. We see LED lights all around us, from our homes to our businesses.

An OLED is an organic light-emitting diode that is slightly more sophisticated than a standard LED. An OLED is super thin and hundreds of times thinner than the standard human hair. This diode lights up using organic electroluminescent layers that respond to electrical currents.

The current advancements in LED and OLED technology are typically seen in TVs from some of the biggest tech companies in the world. Through the use of LED and OLED technology, tech companies are now promising better, crisper, and more vibrant picture quality in 55 and 65-inch TVs.

OLED

3.    Collaboration of AV and cloud-based technology

Now more than ever, we're opting to store our data and conduct our primary duties online via cloud computing to keep up with the 24/7 on-demand nature of the industry. One of the major advancements in this has been the partnership between AV and cloud computing.

With the help of AV technology, organizations can now take their work over to a virtual space while still collaborating as if they're in the same room as each other. Virtual conferencing and productivity tools mean that users can still work together and collaborate on tasks even if they're sat at opposite ends of the world.

Due to the pandemic, the partnership between AV and cloud-based technology has been supercharged as we all transferred operations between Teams, Zoom, and other conferencing platforms.

The advancement in this partnership has meant that companies can increase their engagement, improve communication and continue to operate from the cloud, meaning that the morning commute to the office is no longer a total necessity.

Collaboration of AV and cloud-based technology

4.    VR and AR

One of the best parts of the AV industry is that it has seemingly facilitated the impossible. VR and AR technology allows us to immerse ourselves into different worlds and settings where we can walk around and interact with our surroundings without leaving the comfort of our living room.

The advancements in VR and AR technology are stark, with the earliest versions starting off as large-scale contraptions hanging from the ceiling. Now, a simple headset that is accessible and economical is available for all of us to enjoy.

The most recent advancements and predictions in VR and AR technology are the move from PC-based operations to independent and mobile operating systems. Augmented reality is looking to allow world-mirroring, where real-world mapping allows you to transport yourself to a beach thousands of miles away.

VR and AR technology is also looking to replicate in-person communication, creating software that detects and replicates facial expressions and tracks eye movement. This might point to a future where we can interact with each other in almost in-person settings, even if the two participants are situated in different countries.

VR and AR

What does the future hold for the AV industry?

So, with all that in mind, what future are we likely to see for the AV industry? Over the next few years, we expect to see more integration in cloud computing and the AV industry, allowing us to easily replicate in-person communication and collaboration. This is particularly important as more businesses elect a hybrid approach to work, getting rid of the traditional view of office-based operations.

The same goes for the virtual events industry, which is set to make waves in the AV industry. With the help of AV technology, we can now stage live events without the need for a live audience, and while nothing can truly replace the feeling of actually being present at a concert or theater performance, the AV industry is making the events industry far more accessible for us all.

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It's safe to say that the pandemic has shifted the AV industry into another gear, allowing it to reach heights that many of us didn't deem possible only a few years ago. The future looks bright for the AV industry.

That concludes our guide to the latest AV industry trends. We hope you learned what technology you should be looking out for in the next few years. If you'd like to know more insider tips and tricks, make sure you check out Dexon's blog, where we talk about all things AV technology.

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