FACING THE FUTURE

In-ceiling and multiple angle mounting for TVs is a growing trend in cities (images courtesy of Lewis Light & Sound and Perfect Integration)

Few people are in a better position to provide insight into the growth and development of this category than support product wizards Future Automation. Here, company Director Ollie French, offers some answers to a few key questions.

What types of functionality and placement requirements are on the up?

Room layouts have changed significantly in recent years to accommodate modern large format displays. Due to their size, many clients opt to install their TV centrally in their space (often adjacent to a window). This is one of the reasons we have seen a rise in demand for bidirectional display mounts; to allow for more comfortable off-axis viewing that reduces glare and reflections.

The appetite to conceal these large displays from view is still as popular as it was when CRT displays were being hidden inside media cabinets. However, concealing 75in + displays from view now poses significant challenges for interior designers and architects.

To save floor/wall space, architects and interior designers are now opting to integrate their displays inside ceiling recesses, as this is often an under-utilised area of many modern smart homes which can accommodate large displays.

How are motorised and automated support products doing?

We continue to see a rising demand for automated products, with a particular emphasis toward solutions which can both conceal and reveal displays in high rise apartment blocks.

In 2011 Tokyo and New York were the only ‘megacities’ (populations of 10 million+ residents) in the world. In 2021 this number has ballooned to 23 and is estimated to grow to 43 by 2030. This unprecedented expansion has meant there are now more homeowners than ever before living in tall, glass, high rises in cities. These homeowners have limited areas to integrate a display, which has led to a surge in demand for motorised display concealment solutions.

Clients living in apartments are now more likely to choose an automated ceiling or wall mount for their display over a traditional display mount to maximise usable floor space and avoid obstructing views out of the large windows. Articulating display mounts and freestanding furniture display lifts are also popular in MDU’s because they give the interior designer less constraints when selecting furniture and artwork placement within the space.

In a post-pandemic world, it will be interesting to see if cities follow this expansion trend, or if professionals will seek houses outside in rural areas because of greater working flexibility. What market demands and innovation will the next big drivers?

Gen Z are going to be the first generation of homeowners who have grown up with the internet from birth. This could mark a significant shift in the types of displays Gen Z choose to integrate into their homes moving forward as they enter the housing market.

We have already begun experiencing this shift in demand in recent projects. Young working professionals are now requesting motorised solutions to hide their gaming setups from view in their home office to avoid distractions during working hours. The rise of professional streaming has also resulted in a new demand for gaming display mounts to suit multi-screen setups that maximise desk space.

We are looking forward to seeing how display manufacturers adapt as this new generation transitions away from traditional TV in favour of on demand, streaming and gaming focused content consumption.