Interview
Top trends to look out for this year
2018 is set to be a big year for the electronics industry with technology becoming more pioneering than ever before. CIE editor, Amy Wallington talks to Frank Gerwarth and Sven Pannewitz, product managers from reichelt elektronik about some of the biggest trends that will impact the electronics industry this year
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rom 3D printing to smart home, new technologies are making it possible to implement innovative ideas, to realise your own designs or to make your home more efficient and comfortable. 2018 is set to move this forward even more with the continuing development of new technology with new solutions and possibilities clearly endless. Product managers Frank Gerwarth and Sven Pannewitz from reichelt elektronik talk about why they think 2018 is going to be a big year for the electronics industry. “We are all looking for ways to be more energy efficient, to make our lives simpler and to bring our ideas to life,” says Gerwarth. “This is what the electronics industry can cater for. Electronics have become integral to our everyday life – for example, we’re using our mobile phones more which is draining battery life so the industry is responding with portable and wireless charging technology. It’s still an area for growth despite the challenging economic times.” Gerwarth and Pannewitz explains the
three biggest trends in their opinion and what we can expect from them. “Voice controlled smart home gadgets are the must-have tech gadget for 2018,” explains
12 March 2018
Pannewitz. “But for smart homes to truly take off in the way they are predicted to, we need to get smarter. Some analysts and experts have argued that the reality of living in smart homes with more connected devices than ever before hasn’t come to fruition as quickly as anticipated. But that’s not through lack of enthusiasm or interest from the person on the street, nor was it just hype.
“In the case of voice-controlled home automation solutions specifically, operating heating and lighting either automatically or remotely is the first priority (74 per cent) according to recent research from reichelt.” Gerwarth says: “Developer boards will also see significant innovation this year and become much more powerful. Their uses are so diverse and over the last six years since Raspberry Pi was first launched, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of applications. As makers become more familiar with the technology and what it is capable of, manufacturers will need to respond to increasing demand.” He continues: “3D printing is another
trend that is really beginning to kick off as it becomes more affordable and accessible - we recently saw some projects where a
Components in Electronics
musician had made a violin and jewellers had started printing in gold. There are some impressive creations being made that are set to make waves in industries, some where you might least expect it.”
They then go on to explain why they think these are the three biggest trends of 2018: “The sales numbers for developer boards are increasing, with Raspberry Pi now the 3rd highest selling computer ever,” explains Pannewitz. “We can see a clear upwards trend with Raspberry Pi computers. The demand is not saturated yet – quite the opposite in fact. It’s especially useful with home automation projects because it can be used for lots of different needs. “In terms of voice controlled devices,
research from reichelt showed that over half of Brits are already using or would consider using voice-controlled connected devices at home. Six per cent already use this smart tech and it is currently primarily being used for heating and light operations. “3D printing is a growing trend because
it is more accessible – there are some great starter kits for people to use at home to industrial scale printers for major projects. 3D printers make it so much easier for developers to build prototypes in different materials and multiple colours with very high precision.”
Gerwarth and Pannewitz outline why they think voice controlled smart homes is a big trend for this year. While this might be the case, is this likely to grow further to become the norm or is it likely to become a short lived fad that we should enjoy while it lasts? Gerwarth thinks it is here to stay. He indicates: “Voice controlled smart home technology is here to stay.
Consumers like technology that makes their lives simpler so as long as the technology continues to do this, rather than become a nuisance, we will see more smart speakers and more connected devices in homes across the world. “It’s not just early tech adopters that are buying these devices anymore either. Smart heating, lighting and speakers are becoming much more mainstream as the technology develops and becomes more affordable. Consumers are finally seeing the real world uses and benefits of a connected smart home.” Gerwarth continues: “However, over half (55 per cent) of UK adults said they don’t know how to install smart home solutions, according to reichelt’s smart home research, and would need professional help. This highlights a major knowledge and skills gap in IoT technology installation. “The tech giants and IoT companies should consider the ease of implementation before we see a real rise in adoption of smart home technology. Perhaps as technology continues to develop as it has done over recent years, at a rate of knots, homes will be built with the technology already installed.“
Likewise, 3D printing has the potential to bring new opportunities to the industry. Pannewitz gives some examples of how it can impact the industry: “3D printing has huge potential. Printers for home use can help with all sorts of projects. They allow hobbyists to produce special components from the screw nut right down to the dowel itself. Creatives can use them to make jewellery, for example, too. If you lose your battery compartment cover for a remote
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