Audio Trends And Mobile Phones

Marrying convenient digital music with professional sound quality in a home audio system is just one audio trend CEA sees going mainstream in 2013. But this is not just about the sound; it is also about functionality.

"Modern consumers put a priority on products that are both connected and portable," wrote CEA's Sean Murphy.

Mobile phones have single-handedly leveled out the playing field, a trend the CEA predicts will continue next year. "Mobile phones are used for absolutely everything and used to the extreme by everyone," says Bruce Krogh, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

In the areas of banking, business, and social networking mobile phones have been a game changer for the continent. "Today, social networking in Africa is used for everything from connecting people with ex-pat family and friends to helping farmers track corn harvests and trade exchange rates," writes CEA's Rachel Horn. "While the West experiences its own mobile revolution, it must look to Africa for ideas, opportunities and inspiration." Schoolchildren today have traded their paper notebooks and tablets for electronic versions, and that is only the beginning.

When it comes to technology in the classroom, analysts say it facilitates individualized teaching, where students can learn in the way that best suits them. "In addition to classroom webpages and online lectures, social media is now heavily utilized by students as well. "While social media is not a new concept, its usage within the school system is still in the preliminary stages, with fewer than half of adults reporting that their children's schools use this technology," the CEA reports. Challenges facing technology stem primarily from funding and debates over how much is too much technology in the classroom.