The 21st century is marked by quite a few things, but one of the big ones is tech. The rapid advancement in technology is unrivalled by anything that came before. In less than two decades, we went from the cell phone to the smartphone, not to mention the developments in virtual reality, simulated reality, and artificial intelligence.
Naturally, these advancements have led to a lot of improvements and benefits for many industries. Many might wonder which are the industries that have most benefited from the latest developments in technology. That is exactly what we are here to discuss. We will take a look at a few prominent markets that have, doubtless, been impacted by changing tech.
The Gaming Industry
Games have been around for a while. However, the gaming industry only came about in the late 70s and early 80s, when the home consoles hit the market. We have an interesting example here, as video games don’t just benefit from new tech, they completely rely on it. After all, without advancements in the field, video games could not possibly exist.
Improved processing power leads to better-looking games. Not only that, but it also leads to smooth mechanics, which make gameplay infinitely better. Developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning also mean that the AI-generated dialogue in games has improved significantly from what it once was. And we aren’t even discussing the VR games that became so popular a couple of years back.
A sub-category worth mentioning here is iGaming. The online gambling market continues to grow worldwide, as this casinos.com review of New Zealand gambling sites can show us. Thanks to advancements in digital technology and computer science, the games are now much more engaging and entertaining. Gamblers can see significant improvement in online slots and blackjack, particularly.
Slots players are seeing new mechanics, better themes and graphics, and a much superior blending of visuals and audio with gameplay. Blackjack players have certainly noticed the increase in live casino games, especially blackjack. Of course, live casinos would not be possible without improvements in live stream technology, which has had an impressive impact on entertainment as a whole.
The Medical and Healthcare Industries
Many consider medicine to be a “modern industry.” To a degree, there is truth to that, as scientific knowledge prior to the 19th century was quite lacking. Still, if we were to compare the modern medical industry to that of the Victorian era, we would find they are leagues apart. The advancements we’ve made in medical technology are truly incredible.
New technology has allowed doctors to perform both non-invasive and invasive surgeries with minimal risk to the patient. Not only that, but surgeries that were considered invasive once are no longer considered so, because of changing technology. We’ve also vastly improved the pharmaceutical industry, creating better medicine that is far more effective.
Thanks to advancements in technology, we’ve also managed to better understand mental illnesses. Brain scans and similar new tech has helped doctors, scientists, and mental health experts discover how a mental illness might change a patient’s brain activity. Due to these discoveries, modern society treats mental health issues with a modicum of respect and many are hoping that, in the future, mental health will be taken just as seriously as physical health.
The Travel Industry
Before the invention of the car, traveling abroad was a difficult task. Even then, it took months for a European to reach the Americas in the early 20th century. Today, however, you can travel from the US to Europe and back in only a couple of hours, or a day at most. That is good too, as the US travel industry has stabilized, after the dip it took following 2020.
We have the invention of the airplane to thank for the improving tourist industry in the 20th century. But, what about modern technology? How does that impact tourism? The most obvious way is; the internet. Rather than booking hotel rooms or B&Bs through a tourist agency, you can do so directly, by contacting the business online.
Not only that, but even if you want to go through a tourist agency, it is much easier to step into contact with them online. Not to mention, once you reach your destination, the internet can help you pick out the best places to visit, and formulate a plan for touring the city you are checking out. Finally, nowadays you can find cheap flights and promotional offers online, that will help you visit some of the most fabulous tourist destinations for cheap.
Film and Television
The film and television industry are yet two other industries that could be considered “modern.” Film came about in the late 19th century, but truly hit its stride in the 1910s and 1920s. Television is even more recent, first appearing around the 1950s. Indeed, much like gaming, these two could not exist without modern technology.
It is, therefore, all the more impressive how far the industry has come, as it has existed for such a short time. Developments in computer science have led to better graphics. Even lower-budget films and TV shows can now create competent computer-generated imagery that truly manage to immerse an audience. But, tech has not only helped the visual element.
Thanks to better cameras, films now look much better than ever before. On top of that, as an audience we now expect competent lighting, framing, and structure; all aspects of cinema that exist because technology allows them to. But, how can we possibly talk about the film and TV industry, without bringing up streaming.
Streaming websites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ have made it a lot simpler to access our favorite content. With live streaming technology having hit its peak, home entertainment has experienced growth that, to some, may seem unbelievable. By subscribing to a streaming service, people become exposed to a plethora of films, television shows, anime, and much more. Some streaming sites are even considering including video games on their repertoire.