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38 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2023 Innovation is everywhere we look. From Apple's air tag luggage tracker to robot vacu- ums to gadgets that will feed our pets, innova- tive electronic devices are changing how we live. ough these devices serve a wide range of needs, they all have two things in common: ey need innovators to imagine them and printed circuit boards to make them operate. My experience and expertise keep me focused on the PCB manufacturing compo- nent of innovation, but it is important some- times to step back and look at the bigger picture. Getting Started In any industry, the organizations leading the way are the ones that recognize a need that is not being served, determine how a technol- ogy can be improved, or discover something revolutionary. Because successful innovation The Power of Forward Thinking requires the ability to conceptualize, design, prototype, and build something that will be embraced by the marketplace, innovators need to be skilled in more disciplines than is humanly possible. While enterprise-level product develop- ment teams sometimes possess the resources necessary to take a project from beginning to end, most organizations need to fill gaps in areas such as: • Product design • Mechanical and electrical engineering • PCB design and layout • PCB assembly • Troubleshooting • Marketing and sales Our industry is a key partner for organiza- tions turning innovative ideas and concepts into technology that enables green living, Connect the Dots by Matt Stevenson, SUNSTONE CIRCUITS