68 The PCB Magazine • November 2015
Highly Flexible, Wearable Tactile
Sensor for Robotics, Electronics and
Healthcare Applications
A team of scientists from the National University
of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Engineering has
developed a wearable liquid-based microfluidic
tactile sensor that is small, thin, highly flexible
and durable. Simple and cost-effective to pro-
duce, this novel device is very suitable for appli-
cations such as soft robotics, wearable consumer
electronics, smart medical prosthetic devices, as
well as real-time healthcare monitoring.
Singapore PC Market Growth Driven
by Mobile PCs in 1H of 2015
PC shipments in Singapore totaled 588,300 units
in the first half of 2015, a 12% increase over the
same period last year, according to Gartner Inc.
Outsourcing Manufacturing to China
Results in High CO2 Emissions
Despite the increasingly fervent debate regard-
ing the trade relationship between China and the
United States and its implications for the global
political environment, it is evident that manufac-
turing goods in China and shipping them to de-
veloped countries has real-world consequences,
particularly for the environment.
Copper Clad Laminate Industry has
Entered New Round of Growth
The CCL industry has entered a new round of
growth in recent years, and two regions in Asia—
China and Southeast Asia—have become the
fastest-growing. Relevant manufacturers have
successively taken measures like capacity expan-
sion and acquisitions to strengthen their CCL
business.
Car OEM Telematics Leads IoT Segments,
Generates $60B of Service Revenues
in 2020
While 4G networks would be preferred by auto-
makers to power the connected car, 3G networks
will carry the data driving the majority of its glob-
al telematics and infotainment services revenues.
In fact, it will be after 2020 that 4G becomes the
leading connection technology for OEM telemat-
ics revenues.
Survey Reveals IoT Opportunity
While the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to
evolve and expand, moving from the planning
stage to execution, the momentum is quantifi-
able. According to a new survey from IDC, 73% of
respondents have already deployed IoT solutions
or plan to deploy in the next 12 months.
New Color Technology Displays to
Comprise 25% of Total Display
Shipment Area in 2020
Wide-color gamut flat-panel displays are expect-
ed to grow from 3% in 2015 to 25% of the dis-
play market in terms of area by 2020, according
to IHS. Color gamut refers to the ability of a digi-
tal display to reproduce colors as they are seen by
the naked eye.
Microcontroller Market Growth Tied
to Rise in IoT Applications
The market for MCUs used in connected cars,
wearable electronics, building automation and
other IoT applications is expected to grow at an
overall CAGR of 11%, from $1.7 billion in 2014 to
$2.8 billion in 2019, according to IHS.
Chinese Handset OEMs to Increase
Demand for Smartphone Sensors
Chinese OEMs have proved willing to try any new
technology that allows them to compete more
successfully. Of the many Chinese handset manu-
facturers, Xiaomi will consume the greatest num-
ber of sensors in 2019, according to IHS.
Researchers Take First Steps to Create
Biodegradable Displays for Electronics
University of Missouri researchers are on the
path to creating biodegradable electronics by
using organic components in screen displays.
The researchers' advancements could one day
help reduce electronic waste in the world's
landfills.
68 The PCB Magazine • November 2015
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