At Sony’s immersive studio, the music giant creates elaborate virtual worlds to prop up its artists’ offerings. But COVID-19 has robbed much of the hype from content-consumption rituals like concerts – so Sony is focusing instead on the tactile and social aspects of the ‘concert experience’.

As Christmas approaches, parents are looking for ways to keep their children entertained, and the Nat Geo Instagram AR filter is offering edutainment. The ‘Reimagining Dinosaurs’ activation gives kids an up-to-date view of what dinosaurs looked like based on the most recent scientific discoveries.

Many Gen Y travellers now prioritise the Instagrammability of their adventures and shun traditional landmarks for local experiences. With weddings in India costing families upwards of $70,000, JoinMyWedding lets engaged couples invite paying foreign guests in search of cultural immersion.

Is gaming set to take over people’s free time? What are the limits of virtual reality? How have media producers adapted to pandemic-inspired needs? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to four experts about how people are finding both solace and escapism through screens.