“Were this movie not 3D, it would still be an excellent interactive couples' title”
Porn’s Tech Frontier: 3D and Peripherals
Source: CNBC
The porn industry has seen better days.
DVD sales are down. Internet piracy is up. And there are thousands of online sites where people can watch whatever they want for free — sending the message that porn’s value is zero.
The technology it helped popularize is now costing it millions, so porn companies are on the hunt for the next big thing.
Many people don’t realize that adult entertainment has been responsible for some of the biggest technological shifts in their living rooms over the past 20 years. When Beta and VHS were duking it out for market relevance, the VHS won the battle chiefly because porn companies backed the format, offering low-cost tapes. Similarly, CD-ROMs, DVDs and (arguably) the Internet all grew at faster paces because of the industry’s contributions.
These days, the studios are exploring a variety of burgeoning technologies — each with its pros and cons.
“Moving forward, I think it’s going to be all about IPTV,” says Steven Hirsch, co-founder of Vivid Entertainment. “When your TV and computer become the same thing, I think it’s an absolute game changer.”
IPTV — short for Internet Protocol Television — allows programming to be delivered online, rather than via traditional methods. Most IPTV sites, like YouTube and Hulu.com, have focused on delivering to the PC audience. But new TVs are coming with Internet ports – allowing manufacturers to feature apps such as Netflix’s “Watch Instantly” option or Amazon on Demand.
Hirsch thinks it’s only a matter of time before adult entertainment helps drive demand for those sets.
The problem, though, is that the industry will have to convince manufacturers, such as Sony, Sanyo and Panasonic, to feature their films — which is bound to be an uphill battle. Internet-enabled sets do not offer a typical Web surfing experience.
“There may be (resistance),” Hirsch notes. “Whenever there’s a new technology, there’s resistance when it comes to adult entertainment, but as long as proper age verification is in place, I think it’s just a matter of time.”
The coming flood of 3D TVs is also on porn’s radar. To date, there’s only one 3D porn film on the market – from Pure Play Media. The company is looking to quickly expand its selection, though, saying it plans to shoot a new 3D film every quarter moving forward.
Other adult entertainment companies are taking a more cautious approach to 3D. The coming sets’ dependence on specialized glasses, they say, could be a notable barrier that prevents people from buying one. But once a manufacturer comes out with a good set that doesn’t require glasses, they say, look for an onslaught of 3D porn.
