September 13, 2012
Statistics confirm that 98.2% of US homes have a television, and now research from technology giant Google has been released, which shows that lives in homes all over the USA have officially gone ’multi-screen’. According to the report, titled “The New Multi-Screen World: Understanding Cross-Platform Consumer Behavior”, nine out of ten people in the United States use a variety of screens one after the other, or simultaneously. These screens include, but are not limited to, smartphones, tablets, computers and of course, televisions. The report also found that 77% of television viewers watch their television sets with another device to hand; many will use their handheld device to conduct online searches to discover more about what they’re seeing on the television screen, and the trend for interacting socially whilst watching television has taken off considerably in the last two years or so.
Reuters has also corroborated reports that TV audiences are ‘going social’. Many of the biggest TV shows now have their own respective hashtags so that audiences can discuss what they’re seeing on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or any other social networking site which supports this function. There is no better example of this in action than the coverage of the US Presidential Candidates and their campaign trails; a recent political convention attracted many millions of viewers, and Barack Obama’s televised speeches are followed both on television sets and via social networks.
Televisions are a vital part of the home; the focal point of a living space, a facility for family and friends to enjoy some down-time and now a way to interact and relate to the outside world. With many homes now possessing internet TVs and television sets with built-in browsing capabilities, sharing thoughts and opinions on anything from Barack Obama to the X Factor is easier than ever. Of those in a recent survey who admitted they owned an internet television, 52% of them placed this television set in the living room, further cementing the television as the hotspot for all family interaction and social activity.
Where they used to be simply a place to escape the outside world by disappearing into another plane of reality, now televisions are used to link these televised events to the broader world, and encourage everyone to share opinions and interact. Though there are now many different ways to watch certain shows, catch up on news or simply enjoy browsing the channels, television remains the most popular device, and one which is starting to set trends and set the pace across all other digital forms of media.
With the TV such a central part of the home and intrinsic to the fabric of family life, the way in which the device is presented is also crucial to the way it is used. A permanent, stylish, functional and attractive flat screen TV lift cabinet helps to integrate the TV into the room, while also providing safe storage and the chance to hide it when not in use. Modern TV lift furniture such as the Le Bloc in Ebony Macassar makes the TV the centrepiece of the space, transforming the basic rectangle shape of the screen with a luxurious finish, smooth lines and ultra-modern technology.
When encased within a TV lift cabinet, additional features such as a manual 360 degree swivel means the viewing angle can be changes and adapted to suit everyday needs, providing even more enjoyment and usability. Advances such as sound bars and digital wireless headphones can also be added, introducing yet more dimensions to the TV itself. The most modern of flat screen TV lift furniture can also link the TV with the other screens users are known to frequent with computer compatibility joining a laptop with the TV screen for super-sized browsing.
