Technological advancements continue to rapidly change the world economy and its various industries. The electronic design industry is not an exception since there are a range of technology trends that innovate this industry. In addition, the Coronavirus pandemic has also influenced the pace of technological development in the world. So, here is a brief review of the key trends in electronic product design in 2021.
Virtual and augmented reality
The rise of virtual reality was predicted long before 2021. A few years ago it was expected that gaming, entertainment, education and healthcare would be most impacted by VR. While VR lies in complete immersion into the virtual world, augmented reality merely adds digital elements to a live view. Both VR and AR are nowadays widely used in the fields of gaming, education and healthcare. During the last years, we have witnessed an increasing use of VR and AR glasses, avatars, etc.
Moreover, the influence of this technology expanded even to commerce and trade. For example, due to the pandemic, some retail stores offer their consumers to try on their products with the use of AR technology and artificial intelligence. VR and AR also impact electronic design in two dimensions: the types of designed products and the process of design. On the one hand, the industry is led by the demand for various VR and AR devices. On the other hand, these two technologies can be used in the electronic design process in the near future.
3D printing
Another technology that shapes the modern electronic design industry is 3D printing. Its influence is particularly noticeable in the creation of prototypes. 3D printing allows us to create prototypes for electronic design products in an easy and less expensive way.
Most importantly, prototyping has become much faster than before, thus allowing designers to make better products in less time. So, 3D printing is a very cost- and time-efficient technology in the field of electronic design.
Healthcare
As mentioned above, the Coronavirus pandemic impacted the electronic design industry greatly. Due to the health crisis, the industry is guided by an increasing demand for healthcare electronic devices. People tend to take a more proactive role in their health, so they need more personal medical devices. For example, to measure their health indicators and vital signs, for doctors to monitor their health remotely, etc.
In addition, new medical devices, as well as deep cleaning tools, are also necessary for modern hospitals. Lastly, during the pandemic, public spaces need devices for body temperature detection since high temperature is one of the Covid-19 symptoms. The demand for medical devices is expected to increase, so healthcare-driven technology remains one of the key electronic design trends.
Smart-devices
Another key trend linked to the Coronavirus pandemic is a growing demand for smart devices for personal use. During the lockdown people usually work from home and their needs for comfort have increased. For this reason, household appliances are becoming more smart allowing consumers to lead more comfortable and convenient lives.
Electronic device manufacturers use various technologies to ease the lives of their consumers. For example, robotic vacuum cleaners have become a very popular device. So, the electronic design industry of 2021 is shaped with unprecedented demand for smart personal use devices.
Of course, this list of key electronic design industry trends is not all-inclusive. There are also such important aspects as the Internet of Things, domestic supplies, robotics, automation of electronic design, and others.
