Home automation technology begins with the human voice and extends to the Internet of Things (IoT) thanks to smaller, faster, smarter connectivity products. In the past few years, certain slow-to-evolve consumer technologies have really started to work. One such technology is voice recognition. Although speech analysis, acoustic transcription, and voice recognition technologies have been aroundRead More

Avnet teams up with tech incubator Not Impossible Labs to create an innovative e-textile product that enhances the music-listening experience for people with hearing loss. Music is one of life’s great joys. It unites people across time and culture. It is enjoyed by those who create it as well as those who listen to itRead More

Acting in tandem with high-speed interconnects, antennas and sensors can collect and convey a world of data. They act as the eyes and ears of today’s connected world.   Everything is connected. But for once, we’re not talking about connectors. We’re taking a closer look at the passive technologies that enable the autonomous and interconnected functions of the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, the rollout ofRead More

As rail operators encourage more people to consider public transportation, new connectivity technology is enhancing the customer experience.   From personal internet access via smartphones to instant onboard entertainment options to up-to-date travel information, passenger demands on public transportation continue to increase. These offerings are no longer luxuries; they’re necessities to an industry that isRead More

As wireless connectivity continues to expand across business, home, industrial, and municipal environments, the demand for RF connectors is growing exponentially. A new market report details the history and forecasts a bright future for this vast product category. By Dave Shaff, Bishop & Associates, Inc. As long as there are wireless systems, there will beRead More

By Pete Doyon, VP Product Management, Schleuniger Today’s mobile electronics are smaller, thinner, and lighter. Yet mobile devices such as cell phones, tablets, and portable GPS units are more powerful than ever. Wireless Internet connectivity, RFID, and Bluetooth have become essential applications in today’s electronics, and these capabilities require more complex transmission mechanisms, increasing theRead More

From ZigBee to Z-Wave, plus 802.n options, wireless communications choices seem limitless.   Projected market demand for 5G and other future communications applications is prompting the development of different wireless technologies. Some are in direct competition with each other, and there are overlapping frequencies. Other standards have moved from initial engineering groups, such as IEEE, toRead More

Circuit board modules used for watch band concept   The ability to cram more powerful electronics into smaller spaces has made portable equipment a pace-setting field for the electronics industry. Smartphones have become the flag bearer for this movement, but smart watches are rapidly ramping up the competition. Early generation watches were fairly large, soRead More

Change has been an integral part of human experience since the beginning. What is new is the incredible rate and volume of change that is impacting the entire electronics industry. What disruptive innovations will impact your world?   Over much of its existence, the electronic connector industry has been able to support new interconnect requirementsRead More

The US DOT is investing heavily in projects like the South Carolina Connected Vehicle Testbed to realize projections of dramatic safety increases that come with a connected infrastructure combined with autonomous car technology.   In 2015, the National Science Foundation (NSF) noted that by the end of the decade, it is likely that the USRead More

From Wi-Fi hot spots to remote radio repeater sites, adapters speed technical work and eliminate costly multiple visits, as this case study from RF Industries demonstrates.     When Eric Black, the owner of LA Unplugged, sends his three installers to build a Wi-Fi hot spot or a wireless local area network (WLAN) to coverRead More

As the need for smaller cable assemblies continues, speed, precision, and quality control will be hot topics among manufacturers dealing with ultraminiature RF cable assemblies.     The key trend in mobile electronics today is to make products that are smaller, thinner, and lighter, yet mobile electronic devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and portableRead More