Tim Kridel: Separating hype from reality Features 07/06/2017 Gartner’s latest “Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies†includes several potential opportunities for AV firms. Tim Kridel explores drones, VR, artificial intelligence and more.Few things are as tantalizing as getting in on the ground floor of a hot new technology, then going on to lock up mind share and market share. There’s no shortage of them in Gartner’s latest “Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies,†but some are better fits for pro AV firms than others. Case in point: drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They’re climbing the hype cycle’s “innovation trigger,†which Gartner defines as five to 10 years away from the “plateau of productivity.†Gartner declined an interview, but the plateau appears to be when a technology has gone mainstream, meaning the novelty sheen has worn off and been replaced with real-world proof that it’s a way to save or make money.Since InAVate APAC explored drones in the April 2015 issue, the market has boomed. One measure is the number and diversity of companies that have re- ceived US government approval to fly drones for commercial purposes: more than 5,500 operators in over 40 types of applications. Read the full article at InAVate Active.If you are not already registered then follow the quick sign up for your free subscription and immediate access to this article and the InAVate archive