Published in cooperation between impulsQ and SanJoseInside.com
Developments in cyber-based technology have truly changed how we engage with some of our favorite forms of entertainment. Whether we are talking about gaming, watching films or just relaxing, the digital shift in leisure has played a role in it. However, there are still many people who are unaware of just how impactful the internet truly is. Indeed, many of us take it for granted.
But people who’ve lived through the early days of the web can definitely feel a change. So to show just how much entertainment has benefited from the emergence of digital tech, we are going to discuss how online platforms have changed the way we engage with entertainment. From online casinos to streaming sites, we will look at all of the ways that cyberspace has impacted our lives. Online gambling is illegal in California. Know the laws of your region.
Gambling Online
Many of the older generations might view the internet as a young man’s game. However, the truth of the matter is that a lot of the entertainment one can find online is geared towards an older crowd. For example, online casinos restrict access for anyone under the age of 19 and find the most sustainable demographic in an audience between 25 and 40. But we might be getting ahead of ourselves. After all, plenty of people are unaware of what online casinos even are.
As one may be able to guess, an online casino is a website that allows players to access all of their favorite games, without much of a hassle. To create an account at an online casino, one needs only to prove their identity, create a strong password and log on using an email. Once that is done, a gambler can play some of the most popular and most well-known casino games, without having to leave his or her house. But online casinos go a step further to differentiate themselves from their brick-and-mortar predecessors.
With the inclusion of bonus rounds, internet gambling platforms make the whole experience just a touch more inviting. Players can unlock free spins, cash awards and all sorts of other little benefits that might get them a bit more invested in the market. What is more, on the internet, casinos don’t just end with games. Sports fans can also visit these sites and bet on their favorite professional, college or youth sports, including football, basketball, baseball and boxing.
Boundless Archives of Literature
Gambling is reserved for a certain demographic, but what about something that anybody can enjoy? Well, the internet hands us a boundless archive of literature at our disposal. Recently, the interest in reading classic works has drastically grown among a younger generation. Epic poetry from the ancient world like The Iliad and The Odyssey are beginning to resonate with a brand new audience. But many have found the prices of books to be too high.
The great news is that most of these classic works of literature are in the public domain, which means that anyone interested in reading them can find them for free online, with very little hassle. The Project Gutenberg is a website that collects many of the most important works of literature that have shaped the Western Canon and literary output of the whole world. From The Epic of Gilgamesh to The Tale of Genji and even stories from the Bible, any reader can find them all online.
But what about modern literature? Certainly, it would be hard, if not impossible to find that for free online. While that is true, the internet does provide certain services that allow readers to get recent books at a cheaper price. Book trade sites or used book stores have found a new life online. The pool for new titles here is smaller, of course, but an avid reader might just get lucky and stumble on a title her or she have been craving to read for a long time.
Netflix and Streaming Services
Many have decried “the fall of the film theater.” Indeed, most viewers are not going to the movies in droves, as they used to long ago. Yet films are more popular than ever. Not just recently released titles, but classic works of cinema are finding an audience. How can that be, when the theaters are empty? It all has to do with streaming services. After all, why would anyone leave his or her home, when her or she can watch a film in peace and quiet while relaxing on the couch?
Netflix is the granddaddy of the streaming world. The first company to try its hands at online film and TV streaming, Netflix proved that there is a high demand for such a service. Very soon, Amazon, Disney and Apple followed the example set by their competitor, giving audiences worldwide a wide choice of film and television to choose from. Some are even thinking about including interactive games in their services.
But streaming doesn’t stop at just movies and shows. Online content creators are using sites like YouTube, Twitch and even Tik Tok to stream content to an audience of hundreds of thousands and even millions. These streamers have managed to build up a community of fans, who watch, promote and donate money to their favorite content creator. While most discuss specific topics (films, the news, politics, etc.), there are also many who publish independent fiction (short films, sketch comedy, etc.), who’ve found a real audience.
The Future of Entertainment
It is impossible to say what the future of entertainment has got in store. Just a couple of decades ago, nobody could have predicted the rise of streaming, for example. Yet, today we think of it as an average part of our daily life. Many are excited for a world where virtual reality and augmented reality have taken over entertainment. Who can blame them? What can be more exciting than picturing oneself among his or her favorite film or video game characters, taking part in the story that he or she is supposed to be watching? Bu, VR and AR seem to be a long way away from manifesting in the way many of us imagine it. Until then, though, there is plenty of entertainment online to keep us satiated.
