Consumers to give up everything else but tech

FOREIGN ELECTRONICS and technology experts are confident that even if the world has not yet fully recovered from the recession, consumers would go on buying gadgets and investing in technology.

“The world is in a recovery mode, but the crisis is not yet over. We can still be derailed by problems in Europe and we can get into a growth without employment scenario,” Hong Kong Electronics Industries Association patron member K.B. Chan said. “There are signs that the second half will be slowing down, but technology and electronics will still be moving forward.”

For his part, Gary Shapiro, the president of the United States’ Consumer Electronics Association, said more people were likely to cut expenses on other things, but not technology.

“We’ve seen how people have sacrificed many other things, but not their gadgets or technology,” he said. “Moving into the future, the success of the world economy depends on how innovative we are, on how innovative companies are.”

The government, he said, should play a big role in driving innovation.

This was precisely why Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. president Ernesto Santiago said the group was putting together a technology roadmap, to pinpoint which particular technologies the country should focus on to become more competitive.

Among the short-listed technologies were solar power and packaging, with around 18 more to be studied for feasibility, he said.

“We’re reassessing our future. The technology roadmap will be presented to the government and will determine which technologies and technology evolutions we should focus on. We’re hoping to come out with the specific roadmap by October,” he said.

Technologies that were currently in demand, Chan said, were those that had to do with decreasing the carbon footprint and saving the environment.

“The world is changing. There’s a gradual shift to green and environmental issues. Some of the technologies that we have to watch out for include photovoltaic and (light emitting diode) lights,” he said.

“There’s a big shift in how we see technology. We now have to manage our lifestyle. There’s also a lot of exciting things in store for us in personal electronics. The iPad is just the start. There will also be developments in medical and cosmetic technologies,” he added. –Abigail L. Ho, Philippine Daily Inquirer