Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade

Fads come and go, but the things that impact an entire decade or generation deserve Special attention. As we leave the decade of 2000 – 2010 slow us there are notable fads in technology and electronics that we cannot ignore. While some of the fads of the decade will pass away, as new and better devices are developed, some will continue to improve and impact our future for years to come.

This is my take on the top ten technological and electronic gadgets of the decade.

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: iTunes

Introduced in 2001, Apple’s iTunes makes a variety of online media instantly accessible to people all over the globe. iTunes are played on iPods, which have changed year to year. The first iPod is now considered archaic by technophiles. iPod now offers a tiny iPod mini, iPod nano with video, and the trend of the past couple of years, the iPhone.

Entertainment can now go wherever you are. iPhones and other MP3s now carry music, video clips, fleshy length movies, television shows, audio books, and Podcasts.

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: Twitter

Social networking, including MySpace and Facebook, has changed the way America interacts. Whether real or phony, people spend hours online connecting with friends, family, and strangers. Twitter changed the face of social networking, turning social network updates and blogs into micro bits, now known as microblogging. Celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, John Meyer quickly adopted Twitter as their own marketing and PR tool, using it to send updates to fans and engage fans in direct conversation.

The trend rapid caught on, and while Twitter is designed for social interaction, it is trending more and more toward the feel of an online flea market, with would-be entrepreneurs leveraging the social extensions of Twitter to reach new customers every day

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: HDTV

Better picture and better sound is what HDTV means to most people. In technological terms, HDTV has a higher image aspect ratio along with progressive scan and constant line by line updates of the picture with more pixels per line. The translation means sharper greater quality pictures. Sports fans love HDTV because of the clarity with which they can now see the game. In many instances, it is better than being there. It’s easier to study the ball, see subtle movements, gaze jersey numbers, and watch the expressions on coaches and players faces. That is immensely more entertaining than simply watching a ball game.

In 2007 the FCC mandated that all television stations switch to the ability to broadcast in HDTV. With that the production and assume of HDTV began to climb and continues to do so. Companies like Vizio and Sony brought the price of enormous Cover HDTVs down to a more reasonable level so that more people are able to devour the clarity offered by HDTV.

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: Blu Ray

You probably still haven’t replaced all of your DVDs with Blu Ray discs. I understanding we never would, but as Sony Playstation 3 adapted their system to play Blu Ray movies and the cost of Blu Ray players has plummeted, interest in Blu Ray video has been on the rise.

In the early piece of the decade, Blu Ray editions of movies were so worthy more expensive than DVDs it wasn’t worth the brand. However, as more people bring new HDTV television sets into their home, the clear advantages of Blu Ray become more apparent. The sale of more Blu Rays has helped bring the effect down, thereby increasing again the number of buyers alive to in Blu Ray.

Blu Ray technology makes home video viewing more like watching the movie as it was intended for the big screen. I expect Blu Ray is here to stay and like the Vhs video tape, DVDs will slowly make their way, over a period of years, to the bargain bin as more and more people switch to Blu Ray.

Top Ten Fads of the Decade: Bluetooth

Bluetooth either made our work and social life easier, or helped make us lazier. Instead of using a plug and play interface, Bluetooth exchanges data between mobile devices, like your cell phone, and stationary devices, like your computer. Bluetooth facilitated the easy exchange of data in a variety of applications from keeping track of personal information, calendars, to work and play applications. Data transfer takes place over short distances, such as PDA or phone to computer.

Bluetooth wireless connections have made talking on a cell phone easier, as there are no wires to connect, simply synchronize your Bluetooth headset with your phone and you are ready to talk. Bluetooth technology has also recently been introduced to the every growing gaming industry, allowing communication with other online players without being tied down by all those wires.

Bluetooth was invented in the late 90s, but because of its snappily growth and implementation in technology during this decade it deserves a nod for one of the top ten technology and electronic devices of the decade.

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: GPS

GPS technology has been around for longer than a decade, but within the past decade we have seen the commercial application of GPS technology boom. From GPS systems which offer verbal directions in your vehicle, to walking and hiking GPSs to keep you on track, there are an extensive number of devices available from a number of different manufacturers.

The term, or acronym, “GPS” implies the use of a satellite global positioning system. If you need to know where in the world you are, GPS technology can give you your station, position, and time.

Used by global scientists, geologists, and other scientists for some time, GPS technology is now available as an install-it-yourself system in your car, which simply involves plugging the unit into your cigarette lighter, now also known as a power outlet, and programming it to your current location.

The latest cars arrive with the option of pre-installed GPS systems. Does this mean technology is eliminating the excuse of getting lost when we are actually running late?

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: Digital Cameras

Yes, digital cameras have been around longer than a decade. There is no denying, however, the advancement in digital photography within this decade has been astounding. I remember the first digital camera I had as a ample, cumbersome 4megapixel Sony. It cost around $400.

Today, you can purchase a 10 megapixel camera, in blooming fashion styles and colors for $100 or less. Digital cameras have become so sleek in get that they can roam into your pocket or purse. Less expensive cameras of 4megapixels or more can be purchased as mini-cameras for $10 – $20. The revolution in digital cameras in the past decade is insane.

If you don’t want to carry a separate camera, expend the digital camera installed on your phone for determined pictures you can easily upload to your favorite social website.

The trend continues. 12 megapixel cameras are falling in price, but even more improbable is the availability of SLR cameras at reasonable prices. A decade of changes in digital cameras has created a generation of citizen photo journalists and photo enthusiasts. The only precaution is that you better smile, because cameras are everywhere.

Top Ten Technology and Electronic Gadgets of the Decade: Portable Video Players

Portable video players plummeted in price during this decade, making them affordable for most families. Parents rejoice at the advent of portable video players because they have turned long, boring car trips into movie-thons for the kids. The first portable video DVD players were either held, or packaged in a cumbersome backpack that hung over the front of the sit behind which the viewer sat. Within the decade, that has become old school.

Most SUVs and mini-vans offer the option of installed video players. When not in consume, video players on the go close up in a mini compartment, so they don’t take up precious space in the vehicle.

When they are in for a very long trip, I’ve seen parents go so far as to purchase a portable DVD player for each child or teenager in the car. Everyone brings their own collection of DVDs and their hold earplugs. This eliminates arguing over which movie everyone should watch and whose turn it is to pick the movie. A few years ago this wouldn’t have been feasible, but with portable video players selling for $100 and up, it makes sense if you really believe in peace at any price.

Top Ten Fads of the Decade: Digital Books – Kindle

I predicted a sharp up-turn in sales of Kindle, the electronic book reader designed for downloading recent books and sold by Amazon, along with their downloadable book service. Getting off the ground and used to the plan of reading digital books instead of hard cover books has taken some getting used to. However, as the price of Kindle has dropped and competition has come to the playing field through Sony Reader and Barnes and Noble’s Nook, the market for digital book downloads appears to be growing.

I’m sure we will be astounding with more technological and electronic gadgets in the coming decade. Look for the new trend to be solar powered devices. They are already out there, but many are large and cumbersome. I’m sure there are technophiles working moral now to improve solar gathering devices to power up your laptop, iPod, Kindle, and other portable electronic devices.

I don’t look for the technological and electronic gadget trends of the last decade to fall away. I think they will continue to improve, creating a more technologically advanced society and world that is increasingly interconnected.

Source:

Personal Knowledge and Experience