Sometimes a custom connector design will remain a limited-use product. Other times, it may become a popular proprietary connector. In some instances, the evolution continues and the connector experiences widespread use as a commercial or open-source product. This is the eighth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles thatRead More

Optimistic technologists have been predicting fiber optics would replace many copper links since the late 1990s, but designers were able to find ways to extend the bandwidth and reach of copper. Now we may be reaching the point where fiber may finally become the most practical solution in an increasing number of applications. Electrical interconnectsRead More

A new generation of the PCIe specification is arriving this year, just in time to keep up with the growing demand for data fueled by 5G, cloud computing, AI, and other data-intensive connected technologies. This seventh installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collection of articles that review leading technology trends thatRead More

Longtime industry observer Bob Hult shares his informed opinions, saying that it’s time for all levels of government and industry to recognize that China has become a pragmatic competitor fully capable of disruptive innovation. Doing so may help Western economies better prepare to confront the challenges ahead.  The United States has enjoyed decades of recognition as the world’s economic, technology, and military leader. Innovators including ThomasRead More

The rise of the internet spawned the incredible growth of central data centers. Initially a key tool for companies that could not afford the hardware or expertise required to operate their own facility, data centers ultimately opened the door to consumer internet access. This sixth installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult, a collectionRead More

This is the fifth installment in a series of articles that address leading technology trends that have had a significant impact on the electronic connector industry over the past 20 years. This latest installment in the Technology Trends series by Bob Hult examines the trends and technologies that have pushed copper to the limits and ushered inRead More

The connector industry continues to refine backplane and I/O connectors to provide a migration path to the next generation of high-speed architectures. This is the fourth in a series of articles that review leading technology trends that have had a significant impact on the electronic connector industry. high-speed 112Gb/s 3.125Gb/s NRZ to 112Gb/s PAM4 ItRead More

In the past two decades, we’ve not only cut the cord between our phones and the wall, but we have gained the ability to stream video, play games, and access the web from what has essentially become a powerful handheld computer. 5G will push those capabilities to the next level.  This is the third inRead More

This second article in the new Technology Trends Series by Bob Hult examines the trends and technologies that have shaped USB connectors over the past 20 years. The last 20 years have been called the decades of disruption for good reason. Over this period, new technologies and products have been introduced, peaked, and become obsoleteRead More

The arrival of new, category-defining products and technologies has significantly impacted the connector industry in recent decades. We take a look at the evolution of these electronic technology trends. We are beginning a series of articles that will review 12 technology trends that have had a significant impact on the electronic industry and, in someRead More