Furniture makers finally beginning to get it — cool!
Larry Thomas, Business Editor -- Furniture Today, January 21, 2007
Since returning from three days of sensory overload at the Consumer Electronics Show, I have been asked repeatedly to describe the coolest gadget I saw at the mammoth trade show.
I told one person it was the 103-inch plasma television in the Panasonic booth. To another, the answer was the 108-inch LCD television at Sharp. Or maybe I said it was the LCD monitor at LG Electronics with a three-dimensional picture.
I gave so many different answers that I can't remember them all.
I could have said it was a credit-card sized GPS navigation system; or a digital camera that shot video almost as clearly as any camcorder; or the DVD player that accommodates both formats of high-definition DVDs now on the market.
In fact, I could build a good argument for any of these gadgets — and about 150 other. (A device called a "personal alcohol tester" probably wouldn't make my list, however.)
And the more I think about it, I might even add furniture to the list. That's right. Boring old furniture.
There wasn't really a single furniture item that would qualify for the CES "cool" list, but rather a design trend that tells me furniture manufacturers finally are starting to understand the nuances of consumer electronics.
Nearly every furniture source at the show, whether they primarily sell consumer electronics retailers or traditional furniture stores, incorporated ventilation and wire management features into their designs.
For years, consumer electronics people have complained that furniture designs fail to take into account these two critical elements. But if the most recent edition of CES is any indicator, the furniture folks are starting to get it.
Granted, ventilation and wire management aren't nearly as sexy as GPS systems or huge flat-screen TVs, but those close to the consumer electronics business say they can be critical to the performance and longevity of today's home entertainment systems.
Simply put, it takes a lot of wire to connect a flat-panel TV with a stereo, DVD player, computer and the like. And each of those components generates a surprising amount of heat, which can affect performance over time.
"As your (electronic) gear heats up, the life expectancy is reduced," said Michael Benedetto national sales manager at Salamander Designs, which sells furniture primarily through consumer electronics stores.
Each of Salamander's television consoles is available with optional variable-speed fans that automatically switch on when the interior of the console reaches a specified temperature.
While not every consumer can afford to cool off their cool electronics stuff with fans (they're a $199 add-on) many console designs unveiled at CES incorporated ventilation slots behind and below component shelves to help dissipate the heat.
As for wire management, it's probably hard to beat the built-in surge protector unveiled by Altra, the high-end ready-to-assemble brand from Dorel. Since the surge protector is inside the console, all the wiring and power cords can remain inside as well. The only visible cord is the one that connects the surge protector to the electrical outlet.
"Once you plug it into the wall, you never have to get behind it again," said Joseph Miller, director of product design and development. "It makes it very easy to change components."
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