SmartHomeOwners

Personal and home electronics seem to be ever-changing in today's world of rapidly growing technology.  Consumers are always searching for a more convenient, affordable way to do household chores, enjoy their favorite type of entertainment, listen to their favorite music and chat with friends.  Let's look at some of the emerging trends for personal and home electronics in 2010 and beyond.

Computer Tablets - Home Users and Students

With Apple's recent announcement of the iPad tablet, home computer users and students alike can enjoy combined features resembling those of mobile phones and laptop computers.  The iPad is larger than a phone screen, but smaller than the typical laptop.  It features thousands of applications, including the ability to hold lecture notes and access textbooks.  Apple's iPad comes in a timely manner as other tablets also come on the scene, such as the Dell Android, JooJoo, Microsoft Courier and others!

Not Mind Control, but Body Control?

It's body control (in reverse) where home users can now control their favorite games, social interaction and movie-watching activities with easy body movements and voice activation.  Nintendo's Wii game system was only the beginning.  Now with Microsoft's upcoming Project Natal, home users can ditch their hand-held controllers and use motion and sound sensors to control game characters, make programming selections, speak with friends through facial recognition and more!

Home Theater Trends

Home theaters are becoming increasingly popular, and tech-gurus have taken notice.  The home television and movie experience has become more interactive with Web video, on-demand features and a number of social media features.  And as the icing on the cake, 3D capabilities are now being offered for home theater, with 3D glasses, games, channels, screens, movies, etc.  Consumers will no longer have to visit a local theater to see their favorite movies in 3D.  It remains to be seen where this will lead!  Will television programming catch on to 3D in the home?  What about the sports industry?

Greener Packaging

Consumers are also likely to see an increase in environment-friendly packaging for home electronics.  Whether buying off the shelf or online, consumers will soon notice unique changes in the way items are packaged.  Many big players in the electronics industry have already begun to use what's called sustainable packaging versus the usual throw-away packaging.  Wal-Mart, Dell, HP, Best Buy, Intel and Toshiba are just a few!  Some "green" packaging to look for in the near future includes anti-static paper products, corrugated pallets and crates, suspension packs, conductive corrugate, pleat wrap and anti static biobased foams.

On the Horizon:  Energy-Saving through the Smart Grid

With demands for electricity expected to rise by 26 percent from 2007 to 2030, some utility companies are moving towards the "smart grid" to balance energy supply and demand.  The smart grid offers an innovative way to track how and when energy is used and to hopefully implement energy reductions in communities and entire cities!

Here's how it works:  A smart meter connects to the utility company that supplies power to the home and then tracks real-time information on usage and pricing.  This enables homeowners to track how much energy is being used on a daily basis and how much that energy is costing them.  It also monitors what time of day certain appliances may use the least amount of energy, thus ultimately reducing rates and energy used for the general public.

Even with a poor economy, the world of home electronics is ever-evolving to meet the demands of consumers as well as satisfy the pleas for a greener tomorrow!