Since the Stone Age mankind has remained stalwart in the belief that after a hard days hunting and gathering, or working to you and I, that you should be able to relax, sit back and enjoy some good cinema, or cave drawings depending on what time period you're reading this. Home Cinema has evolved at an astonishing rate, from popping in a big bulky VHS to watch your movie, to plugging a USB drive and being completely amazed at the vivid colours displayed on your 1080p Smart TV and arriving at the present which has heralded some unbelievable advancements in Home Cinema. The thing with new gadgets and technologies is that it just plain makes everything before obsolete, and with unbelievable strides in Home Cinema Design, I can unequivocally understand why. I would never have thought the day would come when watching a 1080p movie would look like a throwback to a bygone era, and after looking at the next Five Greatest Home Cinema Advancements since the Dawn of Time you'll understand why...
5. Bespoke Décor
Now you're probably thinking that a little bit of decorating won't have any impact whatsoever on your cinema experience. Well, youd be wrong. You see, when you're striving to create the best viewing experience possible, you need to consider décor and we're not talking about buying a nice new set of floral curtains here, we're talking about setting the ambience with home cinema design. Oh! And how can I forget acoustical engineering. To anyone who isn't an Acoustician (real thing, honest), that means how the sound reverberates off of the walls. The difference is magnificent when care and due diligence has been made to ensure that the acoustics of a room is top notch. It's like comparing a mouse squeak to a lion's roar. And if you have enough money, you can make your home cinema into a freaking Bat Cave!
4. 4k Everything!
The prospect and the reality of watching my favourite movies in four times greater detail that I'm watching them now is absolutely mind-blowing. I was thinking just a few months ago, in the future, just how defined can TV's and Projectors get? Now, I'm not so sure I want to speculate just how realistic things will become, because I have an inherent love for Zombie and Sci-Fi movies. I'm an emotional person, I cried at the end of Toy Story 3 so I dread to think about what will happen should I re-watch anything remotely scary in over 4000 pixels. Instead of the usual movie night staples of crisps and coke I think I'd be more concerned about having nappies and baby wipes on hand. If The Ring was available in 4k 3D there'd be a lot more admissions to the intensive care unit.
3. Voice Control
As you'd expect, the owners of Home Cinema's like convenience and luxury, and who can blame them, if it were possible I'd have a cinema in my house. Voice control is nothing new, its been around for more than a few years now, but it is a hell of a lot more convenient if you can just say, Projector on than scurrying around looking for a remote. Plus the cool factor would be turned up to 11 if you were entertaining guests and just nonchalantly uttered the words, Play American Beauty.
2. 4D?!
Have you ever wished that you can actually feel the explosions in Die Hard or the ship sinking in Titanic? 4D is the technology of combining a 3D film with physical effects, which essentially means that not only does the screen appear to be alive, but so too is the cinema environment. If you've ever been on a 4D ride, it is quite amazing, having your on-screen heroes reach out to you and genuinely feeling like you've become an integral part of the story. The vibration, water effects and even wind can be utilised to give you an altogether epic experience. Bespoke Home Cinemas are where you're most likely to find this technology for a variety of films, which is a shame because I want to watch something other than Spongebob Squarepants in 4D.
1. Reactive Movies
Currently in development and exclusive to Home Cinema's is an amazing new concept that will change the movie industry for good. Movies that will react to your reactions whilst watching them. Early in 2013 it was unveiled that mobile phones now have the capability of tracking your subtle eye movements to activate certain functions at your convenience. Since that idea's inception other industries such as the movie producers have been thinking how to utilise it to improve the movie experience, and the results are absolutely mind blowing. Small cameras will track your eye movement to make the movie responsive to what you want to see. The future, we're living it. Say you want to pan left to study who that mysterious character lurking in the distance behind the movies heroine is, you can. Or perhaps you want to get a better view of the asteroid that's hurtling down in the direction of our protagonists, also possible. The possibilities are endless and makes re-watching a film just as exciting as the first time you viewed it, perhaps you missed a clue the first time round as to who the killer is, or maybe you just want to get a better view of the love interest. Only problem is, if your other half is in the room it makes it obvious who is the on screen object of your lust!
