What is a Consumer Tech?

Consumer technology refers to any form of technology that is intended for use by consumers in the general public, as opposed to technology created for governmental, military or commercial use. Consumer technology takes many different forms and offers a broad range of capabilities, covering many of the most commonly used items that people rely on every day.

A brief history of consumer tech

Many important inventions in the field of consumer technology were made in the 19th century by inventors such as David Edward Hughes, Heinrich Rudolph Hertz, Nikola Tesla, Jagadish Edward Bose, and others. These inventions facilitated the widespread use of electricity throughout the world. In 1896, Guglielmo Marconi developed the first practical radio-wave communication system, which allowed people to contact others at a distance.

Marconi's utilization of radio waves was a breakthrough that led to the development of consumer technology and other innovative ways to improve our interactions with the world. Bose's experiments were the first to introduce the use of semiconductor junctions and extreme high frequencies. The invention of the transistor in 1947 by William Shockley and Bell Labs fundamentally altered the way signal is amplified and significantly reduced the size of electronic components. In 1959, transistors became small enough to be packaged in quantity within a single chip, known as an integrated circuit (IC), laying the groundwork for the technological innovations that continue to be implemented today.

CONSUMER TECH COMPANIES

Alphabet (Google)
Apple
Intel
Samsung
Sony
Tesla
Whirlpool
Yamaha

A large number of the consumer technologies we interact with on a daily basis were invented during the era of innovation from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Some examples of these technologies are computers (which were first developed between 1940-1945), transistor radios (introduced in 1954), and microwave ovens (1946). Technology has revolutionized our world by making incredible advancements while also becoming more accessible to a wider audience. The average American owns a smartphone with hundreds of gigabytes of data storage and unlimited cloud space.

Types of consumer tech

Technology has progressed to the point where it can more effectively address human needs, leading to increased interactions between people and consumer technologies. There are numerous categories and subcategories of customer technology, some of which intersect. With the debut of new products at conventions such as the Consumer Electronics Show, it is only natural for these categories to grow.

5G Devices

Devices that are compatible with 5G networks can receive signals from cellular towers and provide users with online connectivity.

IoT Devices

The Internet of Things, or IoT, describes the network of physical objects—devices, vehicles, buildings and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity—that enables these objects to collect and exchange data.

Computers

Computers have become more advanced and cheaper over time, making them accessible to more people for various purposes such as work, gaming, and production. Consumer tech includes laptops, desktops, tablets, gaming computers, video game consoles, smartphones and more.

Self-Driving Cars and Vehicle Technology

Since their emergence in the early 20th century, cars and motor vehicles have become one of the most important forms of consumer tech. Cars have come a long way with technology, now featuring high-tech capabilities such as GPS, self-driving, automatic braking, lane sensors, rearview cameras, power steering, and much more. Many vehicles today rely solely on electricity as a power source, which is more efficient and doesn't require natural gas.

Televisions & Smart Screens

Television became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-20th century. It is now a focal point of modern society, with the average American adult watching 4 hours and 16 minutes of television per day in 2020. This is only strengthened by the many advancements that television has made in its nearly 100 years since it was first created. "Smart Televisions" come with many features today such as WiFi/5G capabilities, built-in applications, internet search capabilities, built-in gaming features, computer monitoring and more.

Smart speakers

A variety of home speakers with virtual assistant technology have been introduced by leading consumer tech companies such as Amazon and Google. The three most popular smart speakers on the market are the Amazon Echo, Apple iHome, and Google Home.

Appliances

Appliances such as microwave ovens, various kitchen appliances, laundry machines, space heaters, and more can be found in a majority of homes worldwide and make life easier.

Fitness & Wearables

Seamless integration of fitness and consumer tech has resulted in people embracing devices that track their daily fitness goals and keep them engaged in their activities and workouts. Fitness is not the only focus for wearables; there are also devices and technology that exist to filter air, keep users at a comfortable temperature, notify people when the user is in danger or needs assistance, and much more. Technology that can be worn by consumers includes smartwatches, fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, 911-alerting devices and tech-enabled clothing.

Gaming

Today's video game systems are much more powerful than those of the past, offering capabilities such as 5K graphics, online gameplay and lightning-fast processor speeds. You will find video gaming consoles, games, software, VR devices, gaming computers, handheld consoles, add-ons, and accessories in this category.

Drones & Robotics

Consumer drones are able to take pictures and videos, as well as deliver packages to places that were previously unreachable. These drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be customized with a variety of accessories to create a unique drone experience.

Audio, Music & Instruments

Whether audiophiles or musicians, some consumers take sound very seriously. To address this, this category creates technologically-advanced solutions that help them dial in the perfect sound response to their ears, in real time. Consumer tech that includes audio systems for multiple rooms, Bluetooth speakers, amplifiers, interfaces, microphones, instruments, and other hardware units and software.

Photography

Photography equipment has come a long way since the first cameras were developed in the late 1800s, with advances such as faster shutter speeds, faster lens speeds, 5K video capturing, and low-light shooting. Consumer technology used for photography includes camera bodies, lenses, sensors, hard drives, memory cards, flash units and additional accessories.

Software

A great deal of consumer tech consists of software that enables the hardware to function properly, from basic menu screens to more complex computer programs.