THE WORLD gadget market is expected to grow further in 2011, with global sales to reach the one trillion dollar mark for the first time, analysts have predicted.
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) analysts made the prediction ahead of the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which begins today in Las Vegas. The exhibition will see companies showcasing some of the upcoming products and trends they expect to be big in the coming months.
The increase in gadget sales is expected to be driven by smart phones, tablet devices and TVs. The CEA said spending on such technology would rise by 10 per cent in 2011 to $964 billion, and could creep higher.
“We may very well hit the trillion mark,” Steve Koenig, director of industry analysis for the CEA said.
In Western Europe, the CEA said sales of consumer electronics would rise by 23 per cent in 2011, with growth of 15 per cent predicted for both North America and China.
Tablet devices, apps and 3D technology are expected to dominate this year’s CES conference.
LG Electronics hinted at plans for a tablet device at its press conference yesterday and promised further detail later as it outlined its vision of a smarter home, blurring the lines between home electronics and home appliances.
Both LG and Toshiba made it clear that their plans for 3D include auto-stereoscopic technol- ogy that will dispense with glasses.
The need for 3D glasses is considered one of the technology’s biggest hindrances, with some manufacturers opting for active 3D technology that can be expensive for consumers to invest in.
Toshiba already sells TVs that use the glasses-free technology in Japan, and on Tuesday confirmed it plans to market the TVs in other markets this year. The company is showcasing prototypes of 56-inch and 65-inch TVs at CES.
