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CTA Centennial

April 16, 2024, was the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CTA (Consumer Technology Association), which started as the RMA (Radio Manufacturers Association). This is a series of essays I have written for TWICE exploring and celebrating CTA’s and the consumer technology industry’s first century of invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

These essays have been assembled from varying technology historical research and writings I have done over the course of 20-plus years, including from an annually updated industry history for CTA’s now-defunct Digital America, 20-plus years of CTA Hall of Fame inductee biographies, and numerous tech history articles for a variety of publications over the years.

Part 1 (1924-1929): Founding

Herbert H. Frost: CTA’sGeorge Washington

Part 2 (1930-1945): David Sarnoff

Part 3 (1946-1960): The TV Age

Part 4 (1961-1974): The Sixties

Interlude: Jack Wayman, Our Industry’s Indispensable Exec

Part 5a (1975-1985): A Decade of Disruption – Home Video Revolution

Part 5b (1975-1985): A Decade Of Disruption – Personal Audio Revolution

Part 5c (1975-1985): A Decade of Disruption – Personal Computing

Part 5d (1975-1985): A Decade of Disruption – 1984 ‘Phones It In’

Part 5e (1975-1985): A Decade of Disruption – 1984: Hollywood Loses The Battle Against Home Video – But Wins The War

Part 6a (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Recording Media

Part 6b (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Video Games

Part 6c (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Airways (Part 1)

Part 6c (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Airways (Part 2)

Part 6d (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Compression

Part 6e (1985-2000): Platform Wars – Digital Photography

Part 6f (1985-2000): Platform Wars – DVD

Part 6g (1985-2000): Platform Wars – HDTV (Part 1)

Part 6g (1985-2000): Platform Wars – HDTV (Part 2)

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Happy 100th Birthday, Consumer Technology Business

Celebrating the 100th birthday of the consumer technology industry with the story behind how and why our business came to be and of those responsible for creating it, in five parts:

Part 1: The Wireless Age

Part 2: A National Priority

Part 3: A Pittsburgh Radio Sensation

Part 4: The Birth of a Business

Part 5: “When The Public Is Ready For Mass Demand”

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How the Consumer Technology Industry Was Born

What we now call the consumer technology industry was born November 30, 1920, when the first consumer electronics product, the two-piece RA-DA, the first commercially produced radio designed for the mass market, rolled off the Westinghouse assembly line in East Pittsburgh. After a two-year period of hectic technological, business and legislative/regulatory developments following the end of World War I, the Westinghouse RA-DA and the entire radio industry emerged, becoming the dominant consumer technology product for three decades. On the centennial of our industry, let’s take a look at the events of 1919-1920 that cleared the way for the future.

Part 1: The Day Radio Died

Part 2: How the Consumer Technology Industry Was Almost Never Born

Part 3: How President Wilson Shaped the Airways

Part 4: Happy 100th Birthday To The Consumer Technology Industry

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JBL Showcases Personal, Portable & Party BT Speakers

Fall speaker offerings include the small Grip, the medium-sized BoomBox 4, the large PartyBox 720, and a flagship soundbar/subwoofer combo featuring detachable wireless rear speakers.

Read this report here at TWICE.com.

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Opinion: Are Smart Glasses The Next Disruption Tech?

Mark Zuckerberg is betting billions that they will be, while Rokid introduces AI smart glasses that address many smart glasses functions and privacy pain points.

Read the rest of this screed here at TWICE.com.

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Power, Cleaning, Security, Sound & iPhone 17 Gear For Fall From A To Z

Anker and Zagg launch a slew of new products due to hit retail this fall. Amongst Anker’s intros is its Eufy stair-climbing robot vacuum cleaner accessory; Zagg’s standout is a fool-proof iPhone 17 screen protector applicator.

Read the rest of this roundup here at TWICE.com.

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Rokid’s New Smart Glasses Promise Accessibility Breakthroughs

Mark Zuckerberg is the principal proselytizer who predicts that smart glasses are poised to replace smartphones as our key personal communication and computing tool within the next decade or so. Wishful thinking IMHO, but current early generation smart glasses do provide tangible benefits for the vision and hearing impaired.

Read the rest of this report here at Techlicious.com.

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The 9 Best Refrigerators to Keep Your Food Fresh and Organized

We gathered the latest picks from popular brands like Samsung, Maytag, and more.

Read this report here at Popular Mechanics.

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Apple’s New iPhone Air Is So Thin It Feels Unreal

If you think your iPhone is too fat, Apple has just unveiled the skinny iPhone Air, measuring a silly 5.64mm – less than a quarter inch – thin, but still boasting a 6.5-inch display.

Read the rest of this report here at Techlicious.com.

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Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 Claim World’s Best Noise Cancellation

When Apple released AirPods Pro 2 three years ago, they changed what people expected from earbuds. They weren’t just for listening to music anymore – they became more useful in everyday life as hearing aids. With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple is building on that foundation. These new earbuds bring live language translation and improved hearing aid functionality into the mix, a more secure fit, heart rate monitoring, and what Apple boldly calls “the world’s best active noise cancelling.”

Read the rest of this report here at Techlicious.com.

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Dash Cams New Hot Gadget For Urban Gen Zers

A new survey says a third of non-dash cam owners and 45% of Gen Zers are likely to buy a dash cam in the next 12 months. But what are the B&M retail opportunities?

Read the rest of this story here at TWICE.com.

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The Best 4K TVs Bring Everything You Watch and Play to Life

With all the great shows on right now, and the temptation to binge every single item on your watchlist, it’s no wonder you’re thinking about upgrading your TV. Luckily, there is no shortage of options. In fact, there are so many choices, you might be enticed to purchase the biggest TV possible at the lowest price around.

Read the rest of this roundup here at Popular Mechanics.com.

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Reencle Prime Review – Minimal Maintenance, Big Composting Power

I’ve been using the Reencle Prime for around three months and, overall, it made for a welcome assistant for my first foray into the world of composting.

Read the rest of this review here at Techlicious.com.

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