Technology trends

Eli Noam

Chapter 2 in Video 2040, 2026, pp 11-27 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the evolution of video technology and its impact on content creation and consumption. It observes the trends in various parts of the digital sector, such as semiconductors, fiber optics, wireless, storage, and more, which permit some extrapolation of performance and cost in the future. The rates of hardware innovation have been markedly slower in the video industries due to an emphasis on common standards. The chapter identifies several generations of video, from broadcast television to the emerging fourth generation, “Video 4.0,” characterized by advancements in blockchain, AI, real-time rendering, and data processing and transmission. Despite the growing availability of these technologies, new types of content have struggled to be created and reach large audiences. The chapter discusses the potential for technological progress to change the media landscape, enabling more immersive, individualized, and asynchronous content experiences. The next generation of digital technologies will fundamentally change content production and consumption, driven by trends such as the increasing “bit-richness” of media and declining costs.

Keywords: Video 4.0; Digital Media; Information Richness; Media Evolution; Video Technology; Moore's Law (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035358168
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