Appliance Industry Manufacturing Focus 2011: Home Electronics

In 2010, the average U.S. household owned 24 consumer electronics products and spent an average of $1,179 on consumer electronics, a substantial increase when compared to 1978 when most U.S. households had one TV and did not have a computer or DVD player. Consumer electronics have markedly grown in recent decades and have invaded homes in dramatic ways. To demonstrate this, more than three-quarters of U.S. households have four or more electronic devices plugged in and charging in the home. The average home has more than two TVs, at least one computer, and a DVD player. Electronic computing has become cheaper, faster, and more powerful over the years as technology advances. Intel announced in May 2011 that the company will begin using the first-ever transistors using a three-dimensional structure, called Tri-Gate, into high-volume manufacturing. The transistors enable chips to operate at lower voltage with reduced leakage, providing an unprecedented combination of improved performance and energy efficiency compared to previous state-of-the-art transistors. Opportunities exist for companies that can bring connectivity and audio/video capabilities into the home in ways that meld with traditional home elements. For example, the Cybertecture Mirror, installed as a reflective bathroom mirror when turned off, can bring connectivity to the user when activated with a remote control. The unit connects to a wireless in-home network providing internet access. The product's software library includes several health-monitoring apps that allow the unit to record health vitals and display workout routines. The most significant opportunity is in the area of monitoring and controlling energy use. Providing consumers with energy consumption information in refrigerator doors, bathroom mirrors, and tablets will motivate consumers to conserve energy. When surveyed, 60% of consumers are concerned with the cost of their electricity consumption, and 41% prefer to have an in-home device monitor energy use.

Additional Information

This compilation provides an overview of the home electronics industry, including analysis of major manufacturers and their market-leading brands as well as new products and technology.