2008 Woodie Awards
Miniaturization: not a small trend
Casey Tilton
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Mosaic
A paper-thin television small enough to be carried in one's hand, thin enough to slide through the crack in a door and durable enough to drop out of a two story window may soon be finding its way into the TV fans' hands.
According to a video released by Sony, the company has developed a paper-thin, bendable television with a crystal-clear, full-color display.
This prototype is yet another example of the trend of electronics such as televisions, cell phones and mp3 players shrinking in size.
The upgrades to the original iPod, such as the iPod Nano and the even smaller iPod Shuffle, clearly show the trend.
Fouad Kiamilev, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university, says the change from discreet components to integrated circuits has allowed the trend of miniaturization to occur.
In the past, consumer electronics were made up of hundreds of discreet, or separated, components, Kiamilev says. However, thanks to integrated circuits, components now fit only one tiny chip inside electronic devices, saving space.
"Each chip contains millions of little parts, each a fraction of the width of a hair," Kiamilev says.
Anthony Azzati, Best Buy customer experience manager, says he has noticed the trend of gadgets getting smaller, including Bluetooth head sets, portable DVD players and handheld gaming devices such as the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS.
These small devices allow people to use them virtually anywhere, including in the car or while walking to class, Azzati says.
"People want instant gratification wherever they are," he says.
Azzati says another reason for these small gadgets becoming increasingly popular is because people are less intimidated by smaller things.
He says he has noticed an increase in the sales of the Bluetooth headset since it has been upgraded to a smaller version. However, the trend in electronics does have its downsides. Azzati says he has noticed the Bluetooth head sets getting lost more easily because they're so small.
According to a video released by Sony, the company has developed a paper-thin, bendable television with a crystal-clear, full-color display.
This prototype is yet another example of the trend of electronics such as televisions, cell phones and mp3 players shrinking in size.
The upgrades to the original iPod, such as the iPod Nano and the even smaller iPod Shuffle, clearly show the trend.
Fouad Kiamilev, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university, says the change from discreet components to integrated circuits has allowed the trend of miniaturization to occur.
In the past, consumer electronics were made up of hundreds of discreet, or separated, components, Kiamilev says. However, thanks to integrated circuits, components now fit only one tiny chip inside electronic devices, saving space.
"Each chip contains millions of little parts, each a fraction of the width of a hair," Kiamilev says.
Anthony Azzati, Best Buy customer experience manager, says he has noticed the trend of gadgets getting smaller, including Bluetooth head sets, portable DVD players and handheld gaming devices such as the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS.
These small devices allow people to use them virtually anywhere, including in the car or while walking to class, Azzati says.
"People want instant gratification wherever they are," he says.
Azzati says another reason for these small gadgets becoming increasingly popular is because people are less intimidated by smaller things.
He says he has noticed an increase in the sales of the Bluetooth headset since it has been upgraded to a smaller version. However, the trend in electronics does have its downsides. Azzati says he has noticed the Bluetooth head sets getting lost more easily because they're so small.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Russell Palmeri
posted 10/01/07 @ 10:21 AM EST
Mp3 players have already replaced CD players, you just may not agree with it yet. If you watch the technology front closely, you will have noticed the rumors behind Apple's new laptop. (Continued…)
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