Articles: Electronics

Electronics is that branch of science and technology which makes use of the controlled motion of

electrons through different media and vacuum. The capacity to control electron flow is habitually

applied to information handling or device control.

Electronics is separate from electrical science and technology, which deals with the generation,

distribution, control and use of electrical power. This distinction began around 1906 with the

invention by Lee De Forest of the triode, which made electrical amplification achievable with a non-

mechanical device. Until 1950 this discipline was called "radio technology" for the reason that its

principal use was the design and theory of radio transmitters, receivers and vacuum tubes.

Most electronic devices at the moment use semiconductor components to achieve electron control.

One overriding characteristic of all consumer electronic products is ever-falling prices. This is

driven by gains in manufacturing efficiency and automation, lower labor overheads as manufacturing has

moved to lower-wage countries, and improvements in semiconductor design.

While consumer electronics continues in its trend of convergence, combining elements of many consumer

electronic items, the consumer faces special decisions while purchasing their products. There is an

endlessly increasing need to keep the merchandise information up to date and for the most part

comparable, for the consumer to be able to bring about an informed purchasing decision.

The variables are more regarding 'style and price' rather than 'specification and performance'.

The convergence of technologies promises a decrease of option of retailer to the consumer and the rise

of manufacturer status within the household.

There is a gradual move towards e-commerce web-storefronts.

A current trend in many types of consumer electronics is connectivity. It's usual for many products to

include Internet connectivity using technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Ethernet. Many products

not traditionally associated with computer use (such as TVs or Hi-Fi equipment) at this time provide

options to connect to the Internet or to a computer using a home network to provide access to digital

content.

The appeal to connect consumer electronic products capable of displaying high definition (HD) content

has led the industry to develop a number of technologies, such as WirelessHD optimized for distribution

of HD content between various electronic devices in the home.

Many consumer electronics have planned obsolescence resulting in the generation of e-waste. It is

estimated that during 2003 the US alone generated more than 2.8 million tons of electronic garbage.

Less than 10% of that amount was recovered (reused or recycled).

Standby power used by consumer electronics and appliances while they are turned off accounts for 5% to

10% of household energy consumption, adding an estimated $3 billion to yearly energy overheads in the

USA. "In the usual home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the

products are turned off."

Current research regarding properties of nanotubes and graphene will allow consumer electronics devices

to be more compact, faster, and importantly, more energy efficient.


Consumer electronics include electronic

equipment intended for everyday use in entertainment, communications and office productivity. Some

products classed as consumer electronics include personal

computers, telephones,
href="http://mp3player.hookedelectronics.net">MP3 players, audio equipment, televisions,

calculators, GPS automotive navigation systems, digital

cameras and playback and recording of video media such as
href="http://dvd.hookedelectronics.net">DVDs, VHSs or camcorders.

Consumer electronics are manufactured throughout the world, although there is a particularly high

concentration of research and development activity in Japan and South Korea.

The hottest consumer electronics are previewed yearly at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas,

Nevada, at which many industry pioneers participate.





Sources:
Electronics
Consumer_electronics