A new handbook guides you through the digital technology maze.

The consumer electronics market is flooded with new products. In fact, the sheer number of consumer devices has introduced entirely new business models for the production and distribution of goods. These new devices have also necessitated major changes in the way we access information and interact with each other.

The digitization of technology (both products and media) has led to leaps in product development. It has enabled easier exchange of media, cheaper and more reliable products, and convenient services.

Digitization has not only improved existing products – it has also created entire new classes of products. For example, improvements in devices such as DVRs (digital video recorders) have revolutionized the way we watch TV. Digital modems bring faster Internet access to the home. MP3 players have completely changed portable digital music. Digital cameras enable instant access to photographs that you can e-mail seconds after taking them, and eBooks allow consumers to download entire books and magazines to eBook tablets. Devices such as wireless phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other pocket-sized communicators are on the brink of a new era in which mobile computing and telephony converge.

This has been made possible through the availability of cheaper and more powerful semiconductor components. With advancements in semiconductor technology, components such as microprocessors, memories, and logic devices are cheaper, faster, and more powerful with every process migration.

Similar advances in programmable logic devices have enabled manufacturers of new consumer electronics devices to use FPGAs and CPLDs to add continuous flexibility and maintain market leadership.

The Digital Consumer Technology Handbook –A Comprehensive Guide to Devices, Standards, Future Directions, and Programmable Logic Solutions is a survey of state-of-the-art digital consumer technology and related applications. It provides a broad synthesis of information so that you can make informed decisions about the future of digital appliances.

Organization and Topics
Amit Dhir, author of the Digital Consumer Technology Handbook, says that “with so many exciting new digital devices available, it was difficult to narrow the selections to the most important cutting-edge technologies.

“In this book I have included more than 20 emerging product categories that typify current digital electronic trends. The chapters offer exclusive insight into those digital consumer products that have enormous potential to enhance our life and work styles. Each chapter follows a logical progression, from a general overview of a device to its market dynamics to the core technologies that make up the product.”

Who Should Read This Book
The Digital Consumer Technology Handbook is meant for anyone seeking a broad-based familiarity with the issues of digital consumer devices. It assumes you have some knowledge of systems, general networking, and Internet concepts.

The Digital Consumer Technology Handbook – A Comprehensive Guide to Devices, Standards, Future Directions, and Programmable Logic Solutions is available at all consumer bookstores after March 1, 2004, or online through Elsevier Publishing at http://books.elsevier.com/computereng/.

The price of the book is $49.95, but you can receive a special 15% discount off the list price on orders placed before March 1, 2004. Simply enter the offer code 76899 when ordering from the Elsevier website.

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