Consumer electronics 189768 222437074 2008-06-29T10:01:36Z 71.237.70.49 china is not known better than japan please {{Expand|date=January 2007}} {{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} [[Image:Jvc_gz-mg555-02.jpg|thumb|[[JVC]] [[digital]] [[camcorder]] is a typical consumer electronics device.]] '''Consumer electronics''' include electronic equipment intended for everyday use. Consumer electronics are most often used in [[entertainment]], [[communication]]s and [[office]] productivity. Some products classed as consumer electronics include [[personal computer]]s, [[telephone]]s, [[MP3 player]]s, [[audio equipment]], [[television]]s, [[calculator]]s, [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] [[automotive navigation system]]s and playback and recording of video media such as [[DVD]]s, [[VHS]]s or [[camcorder]]s. The global consumer electronics industry is dominated by [[Taiwan|Taiwanese]], [[United States|American]], [[Japan|Japanese]] and [[Korea|Korean]] companies. Popular brands include [[Sony]], [[Panasonic]], [[Toshiba]], [[Acer Inc.|Acer]], [[Asus]], [[ViewSonic]], [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[HP]], [[Dell]], [[Samsung Electronics|Samsung]], [[LG Electronics|LG]] and others. The CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) estimates 2007 Consumer Electronics sales at 150 billion dollars.<ref>{{Citation | last = | first = | title = CEA: Industry Statistics | url=http://www.ce.org/Research/Sales_Stats/275.asp | accessdate = }}</ref> Consumer electronics are manufactured throughout the world, although there is a particularly high concentration of manufacturing activity in the [[Far East]], in particular [[Japan]] and [[South Korea]]. The latest consumer electronics are previewed yearly at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], at which many industry pioneers speak. One overriding characteristic of all consumer electronic products is the trend of ever-falling prices. This is driven by gains in manufacturing efficiency and [[automation]], lower [[Labour (economics)|labor]] costs as manufacturing has moved to lower-wage countries, and improvements in [[semiconductor]] design. Semiconductor components benefit from [[Moore's Law]], an observed principle which states that, for a given price, semiconductor functionality doubles every 18 months. While consumer electronics continues in its trend of convergence, combining elements of many consumer electronic items, the consumer faces different decisions when purchasing their items. The variables are becoming more about 'style and price' rather than 'specification and performance'. This convergence of technologies promises a shrinking of choice of retailer to the consumer and the rise of manufacturer status within the home. == Environment == Many consumer electronics have [[planned obsolescence]], resulting in [[E-waste]]. It is estimated that during 2003 the US alone generated over 2.8 million tons of electronic waste. Less than 10% of that amount was recovered (reused or recycled). [[Standby power]] used by consumer electronics and appliance while they are turned off accounts for 5 to 10% of household energy consumption, adding an estimated $3 billion to annual energy costs in the USA. "In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off."<ref>http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/home_office.html</ref> ==See also== {{portalpar|Electronics|Nuvola_apps_ksim.png}} {{commonscat}} *[[DVD recorder]] *[[Digital video recorder]] *[[Mobile phone]] *[[Digital camera]] ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.ce.org/ Consumer Electronics Association] * [http://www.cesweb.org/default.asp Consumer Electronics Show website] * [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/ces/ IEEE Consumer Electronics Society] <!--Please do not add websites of electronics vendors. Wikipedia is not a directory listing.--> [[Category:Consumer electronics|*]] [[Category:Industries]] [[Category:Media technology]] [[de:Unterhaltungselektronik]] [[it:elettronica di consumo]] [[nl:Consumentenelektronica]] [[pl:Elektronika użytkowa]] [[pt:Electrónica de consumo]] [[zh:消費電子產品]]