Multimedia Consumer Insights

Trend - Audio hardware manufacturers are designing high-end turntables that blend modern conveniences with the analog audio quality of turntables. These premium devices are also designed with unique aesthetics to serve as a design piece as much as a functional piece of audio technology.

Insight - Audio professionals and audiophile hobbyists alike typically have higher standards than the norm when it comes to selecting technology. Important factors often include frequency ranges of the audio, compatibility with different forms of media, the overall quality of the components, and more. In order to appeal to these consumers, while offering devices that are an experience as much as a functional piece of technology, brands are launching premium turntables for higher-income consumers.

Trend - AI companies are launching platforms that focus on licensing and distributing content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) models. These platforms protect the users of such content, ensuring that the users do not have to worry about legal concerns surrounding the use of AI content.

Insight - As AI-generated content gains popularity in nearly every creative and professional field, consumers who use such content for commercial products, such as advertisements or entertainment media, are increasingly worrying about the gray area zone that AI content currently exists in. In order to appease these consumers and increase the popularity of using AI content in commercial use, companies are launching platforms that handle the legal licensing of such content databases.

Trend - Hardware brands in the audio industry are releasing convenient, modern devices designed to reinvigorate retro forms of media. These devices add modern features to CD players, cassette tape players, or record players, removing much of the hassle from listening to these forms of media.

Insight - While many consumers in the modern era turn to subscription-based streaming services for all of their music needs, audiophiles and collectors still amass large collections of physical media. These consumers gravitate toward physical media whether for novelty or quality. However, many do not use their collections due to the hassle associated with outdated media players, such as requiring direct power and wired speakers. Brands are releasing convenient devices to target these consumers.

Trend - Audio brands are releasing earbuds with non-invasive clip-on designs. These earbuds are designed to be worn by those who find earbuds often slip out of their ears due to physical activity or ear canal size mismatches. Additionally, the clip-on design leaves the ear canal open for surrounding noise.

Insight - Modern lifestyles have led to nearly every consumer wearing earbuds or headphones for numerous reasons, such as entertainment during commutes, solutions for work calls, or to enhance daily workouts. However, many of these consumers find earbuds uncomfortable or unreliable, as physical activity, or even just walking, can lead to earbuds falling out. In order to address the needs of these consumers, or those who want to hear environmental noise, brands are releasing non-invasive clip-on earbuds.

Trend - Online retailers are launching shopping services specifically for VR headsets. By adding shopping directly to these devices, e-commerce is made more convenient for consumers. These immersive apps enable try-ons and previews in a 3D environment, more accurately conveying the details of products.

Insight - Tech-forward consumers have begun adopting spacial computing at accelerated rates while citing limitations of traditional human-machine interface (HMI) devices. In recognizing that consumer-grade spatial computing is in its early stages, brands are racing to ensure their services are available on these modern platforms. Brands that take advantage of the interactive HMI features native to these devices can more effectively market to both long-time users and new consumers entering this space.

Trend - Companies are using artificial intelligence to enhance news delivery through AI-powered applications and services. These tools curate news delivery to ensure only relevant information is delivered clearly and concisely. The AI tools are intended to reduce redundancy in news feeds significantly.

Insight - Time constraints are one of the largest factors that inhibit regular citizens' abilities to stay up to date on news stories. Most people do not have time to check several news outlets to sift through swathes of information, leading to most simply using social media feeds. Brands are identifying the challenges related to time and effort for news, and are creating easy-to-use, AI-powered news aggregators to draw in busier users.

Trend - Brands are launching accessories, such as treadmills, shoes, and sensors, designed to enable physical movement in VR worlds. These devices allow users to simply walk in real life to move in digital spaces—aiming to improve immersion and streamline the process of learning VR.

Insight - Despite the continued advancement of VR and AR technologies, using these tools still feels alienating to many consumers. These consumers find the separation of their physical actions with the animations they see in VR jarring, and thus gravitate towards VR products that feel more natural and seamless. VR technology companies are acknowledging this desire and are creating accessories designed to be intuitive, effective, and easy to learn.

Trend - Brands are launching virtual platforms designed to help workers with ADHD focus while working remotely. These platforms remove distractions, reward focused work, and use neuroscientist-backed methods to increase focus, all while being affordable and working around workers' busy schedules.

Insight - In the era of remote and hybrid work environments, works are tasked with more distractions than ever that prevent them from completing work effectively. These consumers often have constricted schedules, leading them to gravitate towards easily-accessible products and services that help improve the efficiency of their work environments. Brands are responding to these desires with low-cost, readily-available virtual services for workers with ADHD.

Trend - Brands are creating smart backlights that illuminate the rear of a monitor or television. These light strips elevate the perceived depth and vibrancy of colors and match what’s on the screen, alleviating eye fatigue and strain in dimly lit spaces.

Insight - Consumers who regularly consume content often look for products that enhance their comfort, allowing them to watch for longer periods. Reflecting a value for immersive and uninterrupted viewing, these individuals prioritize the quality and duration of their content consumption sessions, seeking out devices that offer seamless integration with their streaming devices. Brands that prioritize user comfort can attract consumers who value functionality and overall experience during leisure.

Trend - Televisions and displays with fully-transparent frames are now being manufactured for consumers. These displays improve workplace installations, video calling, and aesthetics for homes, as they can be fully hidden when powered off. These are high-cost products for more luxury consumers.

Insight - For higher-income consumers, aesthetics are a large factor when considering investing in new products. This is similar for future-facing workplaces looking to augment their buildings with the latest technologies. These two markets align on priorities; products must be innovative with clear value-adds without negatively impacting aesthetics. These desires are leading to brands crafting near-invisible devices with unique features that cannot be mimicked by lower-cost alternatives.