For the last decade, most
conversations about technology focused on the latest, greatest gadget —
smart phones, iPhones, iPads, Apple watches, Fitbits. I can remember
getting my first iPod more than a decade ago. It was the coolest thing
at the time. Today, even that is obsolete having been replaced by the
next best thing.
Everything
is at our fingertips. It’s true that mobile devices and wireless
technology have changed the world. Even here on the pages of FCW,
we’ve devoted an increasing amount of space to all the ways gadgets and
gizmos are impacting the flooring industry and that has included the
influence of social media as well.
While
The Technology Issue gives all of these game-changers their due, we turn
the focus on the technology being employed to make today’s flooring
more appealing to the consumer. Many of them are game-changers as well.
Waterproof
flooring is getting a lot of attention lately. And it should — there is
no denying the impact this will have on the industry. LVT has already
been a force taking market share from other categories. Layer in a
waterproof component and the level of attractiveness rises.
Performance
for sure has been enhanced across the board. Hardwood finishes have
reached new levels of scratch and dent resistance, for example.
Even
in soft surface, the technological advancements in the last couple of
years are remarkable. Stain resistance and protection from water has
been a focus. That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the
role technology plays in enhancing flooring’s function capabilities.
There is also a lot to talk about when it comes to installation and in
particular looselay.
But
let’s not forget about the impact on visuals and in particular the
creation of such realism that it’s often hard to tell what category of
flooring you are looking at. Take tile, for example. Tile can now truly
look like hardwood. Or stone. Or a piece of fabric. It’s that good.
The
same holds true for LVT. Consumers can have any look they want at a
reasonable price. And there are some companies that offer custom
capabilities as well. Technology indeed is impacting this business on
many fronts, each yielding positive results. The image on our cover this
issue was inspired by our appreciation for the great scientific and
creative minds that are at work in the lab or the plant or at the
drafting table (or computer) conceptualizing and developing the very
things that will help our industry move forward and inspire consumers to
purchase.