miniaturization

Today, everyone everywhere is looking for compact and convenience in electronics, they are looking for miniaturized versions. Companies today are pushing this concept even more so by coming out with products that are sleeker, less bulkier, and even pocket-sized. Some examples are as follows:

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Cellphones
These phones began their life as big, bulky bricks that people held up to their ears. As the years went on, cellphones have evolved into something more sophisticated and stylish. The Motorola RAZR and SLVR and also the LG Chocolate are some examples of the thin, slim shapes that these phones have taken.



Digital Cameras
Before the advent of digital photography, pocket-sized cameras were not even possible due to the size constraints of film. Today, digital cameras are literally as small as you want them. Consumer cameras are advertised as "credit-card size" and "ultra-slim". This is all possible due to new technologies being developed that allows for small recording media (memory cards), small lenses, and smaller sensors while still preserving image quality. The demand for small, pocket-sized, portable digital cameras is in part driven by the increasing multimedia aspect of the web: the enchanced ability for sharing digital images promotes photography-on-demand.



Computers
Computers have always been on a continuous trend towards a smaller scale. A computer monitor for example, began as a big and boxy shape. Nowadays, we have the altarnative of a flat LCD screen which not only saves a lot of desk space, but also is better for the eye. Computers have now also become portable, in the form of a laptop. Even laptops seem to be getting smaller, thinner, and lighter. Also, desktop computers like the Apple Mac Mini (the first successful mini PC) which measures about 2.5 X 6.5 X 6.5 inches, are emerging and slowly gaining acceptance with the computer enthusiasts (because of its compact and functional size)



Others
Many other electronics have reduced their appearance to conform to the changes in technology. Its a race to the smallest between the different types of existing technologies. The iPod Nano is a very slim, pocket-sized mp3 player that has reduced in size compared to the original iPod. Portable DVD players have developed from the VHS, plasma television screens from the television box that use to sit in the middle of your living room floor, and also compact discs from cassette tapes (or records if you want to think further back) The world has come a long way by reducing. Pretty much all the electronics and gizmos out there are being (or been) reduced for convenience as well as for style.