Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1248324
10 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2020 As IPC looks to the future of the electronics industry to determine what services to develop in the areas of standards, education, and ad- vocacy, we will rely on a newly created role at IPC—chief technologist—to assist us in that effort. Matt Kelly, a familiar face in IPC stan- dards development and widely recognized in the global electronics industry as a thought leader and an innovator, was recently hired as IPC's chief technologist. I sat down with Matt to ask him about his new role, as well as in- dustry trends. John Mitchell: When looking at something as broad as "the future of electronics," how do you focus on what trends will be the most criti- cal to supporting IPC members? Matt Kelly: That's a great question, John. As we can likely agree, predict- ing the future is a tough business—especially to- day, as emerging and disruptive technologies are rapidly evolving. To have a shot at getting this right, I focus on "cutting through the noise." With so much information at our fingertips and so many technologies advancing at the same time, I concentrate on separating hype from re- ality. To do this, I rely on the engineering and business experience I've gained over the past 20 years in the electronics industry. Separating Hype From Reality: What's Next for the Future of Electronics? One World, One Industry by Dr. John Mitchell, IPC—ASSOCIATION CONNECTING ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES Matt Kelly