The electronics manufacturing industry produces electronic devices that use electrical circuits to perform functions. It began in the late 19th century and has seen significant technological advances. Innovations in computer technology have transformed the industry and made electronic products more affordable. However, the industry has environmental drawbacks such as toxic materials and energy consumption.
The electronics manufacturing industry is a worldwide group of companies involved in the production of computer, communications, and other electronic products. Electronics refers to any device that uses electrical circuits to perform a function that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. Since its origins in the late 19th century, the electronics manufacturing industry has seen significant advances in technology and widespread use around the world. Virtually all aspects of modern life have been changed or influenced by the products of this industry.
The electronics manufacturing industry began with the innovations of inventors such as Thomas Edison and Guglielmo Marconi in the 1800s. Edison pioneered the distribution of electricity to individual households, enabling the use of electronic devices such as lighting, household appliances, and communication equipment . Marconi’s creation of wireless radios paved the way for later inventions such as television, satellite communication, and wireless Internet. The conveniences and luxuries provided by electrical devices sparked a worldwide demand which launched the electronics industry and continues to this day.
In the second half of the 20th century, innovations in computer technology made the home personal computer a reality. These computers had multiple uses, and each new generation was cheaper to buy and easier to use. By the 1920s, the Internet had connected millions of these computers to a worldwide network of information, communication, and entertainment. Each of these advances has been accompanied by new devices and technologies provided by the electronics manufacturing industry. In the 1990th century, electronic products transformed the way people live, work and communicate.
The electronics manufacturing industry is characterized by regular technological advances. Much of this is driven by computer processing, which generally follows a concept known as Moore’s Law. According to Moore’s Law, readily available information processing power tends to double every two years, which means that computers and the devices that use them can get smaller and cheaper. The electronics industry tends to locate its manufacturing facilities in countries with low labor wages, further increasing the affordability of end products. The Consumer Electronics Association estimates that, in 2010, products from the electronics manufacturing industry had sales of more than 180 billion US dollars (USD) in the United States alone.
While the electronics industry doesn’t create as many pollutants as other industries, it does have its environmental drawbacks. Some computer components include toxic materials. Many electronic devices are designed to be used for a short time and then discarded and replaced with a new generation. Furthermore, many electronic devices draw energy from electrical outlets even when they are switched off, increasing energy consumption and the consequent emission of pollutants all over the world.
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