In the blog “Elastronics: The Future of Electronic Industry”, the author applied two class concepts onto his arguments: McGrath’s Transient Advantage Theory and SWOT Analysis. The author identifies that the “elastronics” industry is not severely competitive because it is newly invented, and very technically demanding.
Another class concept used to build on the argument could be the Positioning Map. On a positioning map which has the x-axis indicated the technology level, and the y-axis indicated the potential of growth, the “elastronics” would be placed on the area where the level of technology is high and the potential growth is also high. Therefore, it can be difficult for small tech companies move to the industry of electronics because it requires huge investment and human resources.
In addition, the blog concerns about the various applications of “elastronics” (stretchable electronics) in the fields such as health care. For instance, the stretchability of “elastronics” allows scientists to design customized sensors to monitor the body conditions of a patient. Meanwhile, the author also mentions Elastronics application on wearable technology.
Based on my research, I have discovered more ways of using “elastronics”. First, “elastronics” can be used in AI (artificial intelligence) industry; today, the human-like robot is still constructed by assembling different kinds of rigid electronics. Imagine that if “elastronics” are applied to the production of robots; the robots can function more efficiently than they do today’s; their body will react much faster and smoother than before as their weight gets much lighter. In addition, there will be less energy waste due to the high efficiency of heat dissipation of the “elastronics”.
Another application of Elastronicsis for education. Connecting with wearable technology, “elastronics” will provide a more efficient learning experience for students. “elastronics” enables manufacturers to build more comfortable wearable technology for students; for example, virtual reality company can design their goggles to be more flexible and soft for students to use for the long-distance course.
While the benefits of “elastronics” are obvious, there are still many unknown facts about “elastronics”. First one would be the environmental issue; the main material used to produce Elastronicsis silicon. As more silicon is consumed, in cities without a proper silicon recycling standard, the mass production of “elastronics” might be harmful to the environment. Second, in the use of medical care,” elastronics” has to be human-friendly; due to the complexity of our body structure, the “elastronics” will be very material demanding since different parts of our body require different materials. Lastly, the development of “elastronics” will have a huge impact on the traditional electronics industry; therefore, tech companies should get ready to face the challenges and opportunities brought by “elastronics” industry.
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Reference:
Elastronics: the future of Electronic industry | BowenZhang’s Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://blogs.ubc.ca/bowenzhang/2017/10/29/elastronics-the-future-of-electronic-industry/
Ghaffarzadeh, D. K. (2017, June 08). Stretchable electronics: near term commercial success stories | IDTechEx Research Article. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.idtechex.com/research/articles/stretchable-electronics-near-term-commercial-success-stories-00011170.asp
Mechanics of Materials. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.tue.nl/en/education/tue-graduate-school/phd-programs/phd-programs/phd-program-automotive-systems/research-groups/research-groups-powertrain-components/mechanics-of-materials/research/projects/ongoing-phd-research-projects/stretching-the-limits-of-stretchable-electronics/
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3D printed stretchable electronics may be here to stay. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.3ders.org/articles/20170104-3d-printed-stretchable-electronics-may-be-here-to-stay.html