Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1454922
REAL TIME WITH... IPC APEX EXPO 2022 SHOW & TELL MAGAZINE I I-CONNECT007 137 2. Interview and thank the IPC Education Committee and the participants of the PCB design layout competition for all of their hard work in raising the need for designer education. During the first day of the show, I met up with Patrick Crawford, who was busy running the finals of the IPC PCB Design Competition. Patrick introduced me to the judges for the competition while the finalists worked remotely, displayed on large, individual flat screen monitors, to finish their layouts. I had an opportunity to thank Patrick and the judges for resurrecting the spirit of the PCB design com- petition, raising awareness regarding PCB lay- out. Of note, none of the three designers in the competition had any previous training on the layout tools that were used for the competition. is fact alone speaks volumes for the easy-to- use modern layout tools. 3. Walk the APEX EXPO show floor, ask, and get answers about where CFX is going. As I walked the show floor, I saw many trian- gular CFX signs indicating that the equipment and processes featured within the products are integrating with the smart factory data criteria. I was very happy to see that one of I-Connect007's own columnists, Dana Korf, was recognized by the IPC for leading the team, by starting and completing the new IPC-2551 International Standard for Digital Twins in less than a year's time. Dana explained that this standard provides the foundation for a complete bi-directional dig- ital model for which the data from design and manufacturing can leverage for optimization of the design without a physical design prototype. 4. Connect via livestream with the AltiumLive speakers, thank them, and receive many questions from our livestream audience. e IPC APEX EXPO show was run in part- nership with the well-attended AltiumLive Con- nect 2022 show this year. While serving as a fre- quent guest editor for I-Connect007's Real Time with…IPC APEX EXPO show coverage, I also served as the host of the AltiumLive event which was livestreamed to its audience from the APEX EXPO show floor. ese collaborative partner- ship efforts served the entire PCB industry well. ey fought against the pandemic issues to bring back live one of the largest PCB industry shows in North America, while AltiumLive simulta- neously provided a livestreamed show, which not only covered design topics but made one of the best efforts I've seen to pull mostly live, design-oriented viewership to connect with the manufacturers, equipment, and process suppli- ers on the physical show floor. Stitching all this together into video content and print provides easy-to-find content for years to come. ank you to the great folks at I-Connect007 who work tirelessly to provide overall industry coverage. 5. Connect and make good friends with at least 20 PCB stakeholders I have never met before on AltiumLive virtual networking. Mission accomplished. ere was no lack of new attendees to these shows. I will forgo the name-dropping for now, but I hope to intro- duce you to many of these fine PCB industry stakeholders in my Target Condition column. 6. Gather with I-Connect007's Andy Shaughnessy, Nolan Johnson, and as many PCB industry folks as possible for spontaneous guitar jams. From the show floor to the hotel restaurant, these were among some of my favorite down-