10 Emerging Technologies

You can take a breath now. The latest issue of the MIT Technology Review reveals its annual list of 10 emerging technologies and two are tied to our field.

To make the MIT list, the technology must be “most likely to alter industries, fields of research, and even the way we live.”

One, light-focusing optical antennas, which couples nanoscale optical antennas with a $50 laser, can narrow an IR light beam onto a spot just 40 nm wide. This has applications for improving photo­lithography, making chip development smaller and cheaper.

Another, a very-fast and sharp imaging technique known as compressive sensing, being worked on by scientists at Rice University, could broadly improve camera and scanner resolution. One observer says it could make its way into medical and industrial applications within two years.

If you thought we had too many defects now, just wait.

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About Mike

Mike Buetow is president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (pcea.net). He previously was editor-in-chief of Circuits Assembly magazine, the leading publication for electronics manufacturing, and PCD&F, the leading publication for printed circuit design and fabrication. He spent 21 years as vice president and editorial director of UP Media Group, for which he oversaw all editorial and production aspects. He has more than 30 years' experience in the electronics industry, including six years at IPC, an electronics trade association, at which he was a technical projects manager and communications director. He has also held editorial positions at SMT Magazine, community newspapers and in book publishing. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikebuetow