52 The PCB Magazine • May 2017
Worldwide Spending on Cognitive
and Artificial Intelligence Systems
to Hit $12.5B in 2017
A new update to the Worldwide Semiannual Cog-
nitive Artificial Intelligence Systems Spending
Guide from International Data Corporation (IDC)
forecasts worldwide revenues for cognitive and ar-
tificial intelligence (AI) systems will reach $12.5
billion in 2017, an increase of 59.3% over 2016.
Inkjet Printable and Biocompatible
Layered Electronics
Printed electronics can lead to both low-cost and
flexible devices. Flexible electronics is of particu-
lar interest for wearable systems, such as health
and fitness trackers, while the relative low-costs of
printing are attractive for functional packaging for
consumer products.
Innovations Enabled by Industrial IoT
Accelerate the Shift to Manufacturing 4.0
Manufacturing across the globe is on the threshold
of a revolution, with Industrial Internet of Things
enabling manufacturers to influence the capaci-
ty of objects to communicate with and sense the
world around them.
Streamlining Mass Production of
Printable Electronics
Memory devices—as a subset of electronic func-
tions that includes logic, sensors and displays—
have undergone an exponential increase in inte-
gration and performance known as Moore's Law.
In parallel, our daily lives increasingly involve an
assortment of relatively low-performance electron-
ic functions implemented in computer chips on
credit cards, in-home appliances, and even smart
tags on consumer products.
Semiconductor Industry Sets Out
Research Needed to Advance
Emerging Technologies
The report, titled Semiconductor Research Oppor-
tunities: An Industry Vision and Guide, also calls
for robust government and industry investments
in research to unlock new technologies beyond
conventional, silicon-based semiconductors and
to advance next-generation semiconductor man-
ufacturing methods.
Driverless Cars and Shared Mobility to
Transform Traditional Vehicle Interiors
Fully driverless technology will spark a transforma-
tion of personal mobility, enabling consumers to
abandon costly vehicle ownership and summon
shared vehicles when needed.
Robotics Companies Off to Fast Start
Since Trump's Inauguration
Since being inaugurated on January 20, 2017,
President Donald Trump has pursued a policy of
discouraging manufacturers from leaving the Unit-
ed States. As a result, more businesses, large and
small, have turned towards robotics technologies
to keep labor costs down.
Spotlight on Industry 4.0
The way we approach employee training in the
workplace must change as we see traditional in-
dustrial sites transformed into smart factories and
technology taking over, according to RMIT Eu-
rope Innovation and Engagement Manager Boaz
Kogon.
Flexible Electronic Devices With
Roll-To-Roll Over-molding Technology
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has, for
the first time, performed all manufacturing stag-
es for a flexible in-moulded LED foil -in roll-to-roll
process. The purpose of this demo is to prove the
suitability of the technique for the highly cost-ef-
fective manufacture of products such as flexible
LED displays containing printed electronics.
Global Smart Locks Market: Rising Trend
of Smart Homes to Drive Growth
As per TMR, the worldwide market for smart locks
was worth US$226.7M in 2015. Researchers ex-
pect the opportunity in this market to increase at
a CAGR of 18.30% during the period from 2016 to
2024 and reach US$1.01B by the end of the fore-
cast period.
Electronics Industry News
Market Highlights
