Advancements in Technology in New Zealand
The tech world is rapidly evolving, at a faster rate than ever, particularly hardware and software which impacts gaming. 5G, VR, AR, screen resolution, PC performance, headset, gaming mice, keyboard responsiveness, and cloud gaming are all pushing what gamers can do and enjoy to new levels. Additionally, they are fundamentally changing the expectations of where you can game. Throughout hte 2000s and 2010s, gaming moved away from web browsers and DIY set-ups towards polished consoles and PC store-fronts. Now, however, especially with the development of 5G and cloud gaming, people can game at Royal Panda Casino, play Call of Duty, and take turns on Civilisation from a variety of devices, seamlessly.
New Zealand’s position in this isn’t in the margins. Read on for all the details on how the biggest tech advancements are affecting New Zealand.
Growth in the Gaming Industry
The gaming industry has taken a massive jump in 2021 in New Zealand, according to a new report. The New Zealand Game Developer Association has reported that there has been a whopping $121 million jump in profit since March 2020 – and it is only growing.
The gaming sector is showing 42% annual growth, resulting in $324 million in annual revenue in 2020.
It seems the country’s creative flair is seeing a great return on talent. New Zealand has been seen as a creative hub for developers, with education programs training the next generation of developers popping up all over the country. It seems the fruits of their labours are coming in.
There are around 50 studios operating in New Zealand, with around 12 of them producing the majority of the profits. There are calls for senior developers to mentor new graduates in game development to keep up with the booming demand of the gaming industry.
VR and the metaverse
Speaking of gaming, that is the first thought when someone brings up VR. Either you’ve visited one of those experience rooms that are kitted out with treadmills, gloves and headsets like a Ready Player One scene or you saw Lil Nas X LIVE! …streamed over a Fortnite concert. It’s nothing to scoff at, with millions of players heading to the “stadium” within the Fortnite platform to enjoy the tunes of names like Ariana Grande and Travis Scott.
But VR isn’t stopping there. More and more the tech is infiltrating the day-to-day workings of staff. Tech giants like Facebook are currently developing the “metaverse”, which rather than being a sci-fi fiction genre, is supposed to collect all users in an online platform for the purposes of making remote working easier. It is the natural next step from Zoom meetings that see avatars of employees sharing ideas, complete with graphics, in an online office room.
It should cut down on carbon emissions in New Zealand and around the world by allowing more remote working with no employees or clients needing to commute to the office.
Smart technology
Beyond gaming, smart technology is swiftly infiltrating every aspect of city life, creating “smart cities” that are improving quality of life, lowering the cost of living, and improving energy efficiency.
And it’s already started. Train stations are being fitted with smart card readers so that you can simply swipe your phone or card to get through, airports are offering passport gates that are making lines quicker, and security now featuring smart card readers and cameras, like the Ring doorbell. You will likely have seen a lot of contactless payment machines showing up in your nearest retail store. Like the smart card security readers you’ll see in hotel rooms, they offer a more secure transaction due to the end-to-end encryption.
These and far more smart products like smart thermometers and appliances are all designed to cut down energy costs and, in some cases, to generate energy. They also promote behavioural change in a city’s citizens, making each of them more aware of their carbon footprint and offering solutions on how they can cut down.
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