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Where and how we spend our leisure time is sure to change

An article titled Have I Got a Story for You by Robert A. Iger, chairman and chief executive of Walt Disney Co., was published in the July 8th issue of the Wall Street Journal. It has some very insightful observations about entertainment and the impact of technology that is along the lines of what we have been covering in different articles in this Leisure eNewsletter. Following are some excerpts from that article:

“ ... technology is lifting the limits of creativity and transforming the possibilities for entertainment and leisure. Todays digital era has unleashed unprecedented innovation, giving rise to an array of new entertainment options competing for our time and attention...”

“In the years ahead, this fusion of technology and creativity will allow us to deliver experiences once unimaginable. What will that future look like? Like Walt [Disney], Im hesitant to make predictions. But a few things seem certain to me.”

“To start, the 20th-century concept of "one size fits all" no longer applies, as innovators around the world create tools that allow us to customize entertainment and leisure experiences to fit our own tastes and schedules and share them instantly with friends, family and an ever-growing digitally connected global community. In short, we are creating what I like to call technology-enabled leisure.”

“Mobile storytelling, and mobile entertainment, will dominate our lives, and offer rich, compelling experiences well beyond what is available today. Where someone is will no longer be a barrier to being entertained; the geography of leisure will be limitless.”

“One of the most exciting developments I see on the horizon is technology that will immerse us into entertaining worlds, or project those worlds and experiences into our lives. In essence, entertainment will be immeasurably enhanced with both virtual-reality experiences and augmented-reality experiences...”

“The challenges? Technology can be an invasive force, competing for our attention and eroding the time we have for our families and ourselves. Few of us would give up the tech tools that keep us productive and informed; even fewer can remember the last time we completely unplugged on vacation. The more ubiquitous technology becomes in our lives, the more diligent we must be to ensure it doesnt overwhelm or diminish our leisure time.”

“Ultimately, technology is about connecting, not cocooning; its a tool that should empower us to reach more people and bind us closer together, rather than encourage us to disengage from one another. Even as we use technology to create more individualized experiences, social interaction is still a basic need, a fundamental part of our humanity.”

“Thats why we value entertainment "events" that create treasured memories, strengthen personal connections and deliver shared experiences, whether at the movies, in a theme park, or at a sports stadium. This is entertainment that cannot be time-shifted or duplicated; you have to be there, immersed in the moment.”

“An experience is enhanced when shared with others, becoming something to be savored and remembered long after its over. These social events enrich our lives, and our need for them will never change...”

You can read the Iger's entire article by clicking here.

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