Welcome back to our “Viewpoint Series,” where each month, Nick Belcore, Executive VP at Peerless-AV, will delve into a pressing question in the Pro AV industry, offering insights on how businesses can evolve to meet the challenges of today’s rapidly changing environment.

For today’s topic, we’re examining an important question: How is the evolution of content formats and resolution (8K, HDR, etc.) impacting the AV industry?

The evolution of content formats and resolution, like 8K, HDR, and more emerging technologies, has a profound impact on the AV industry. The implementation of these ultra-high-resolution formats are still heavily debated within the industry, particularly when it comes to necessity and feasibility, but still continually shape the industry. The AV sector recognizes that these resolution enhancements must be purpose-driven and meet specific market needs, or open up new experiences and conversations to justify the significant effort required across the entire production and distribution system to implement them.

For example, we have seen the value of 8K imaging when it comes to medical imagery, as the detail offered by this format is transforming how professionals are diagnosing and identifying health issues, sometimes even before traditional technology can detect them. Beyond diagnosis, in an endoscopy procedure, 8K resolution on both the camera and the corresponding display will open up entirely new possibilities in precision surgical techniques, such as the ability to better join tubes or blood vessels after the removal of tissue. This is a great example of a practical use case where the ROI in advanced resolution pays off.

On the other hand, the AV industry is also realizing that immersive virtual experiences and cinematic productions that offer a lifelike visual experience are growing in demand. However, this requires substantial changes in product processes, storage spaces, and bandwidth, shining light on the fact that resolution advancements must be matched by the readiness of the production ecosystem and a clear end-user value.

While much about these ultra-high-resolution formats is still being debated, the AV industry is constantly moving and changing. The priority remains to develop the latest technology and best practices for integration, making new processes, implementing advanced technologies, and creating a more immersive experience across the industry.

Come back next month to see what AV industry topic we will cover in June!