Full-day conference on AR/VR/MR, discussions on global investment impacts among highlights
Expert panels on topics of high interest are an integral part of the industry program at SPIE Photonics West. Above, from left, moderator Leo Baldwin (Amazon) and panelists Micah Tinklepaugh (CERN), Scott McEldowney (Oculus), and Frank Black (HTC VIVE) discuss challenges in virtual reality applications during the 2017 event. Credit: Joey Cobbs Photography |
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA — Global investment in quantum technology, LiDAR-driven breakthroughs in autonomous mobility, the role of 3D printing in Industry 4.0, and applications for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality are among hot topics in an industry program planned for SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, California, early next year.
Photonics West 2018 will run 27 January through 1 February at the Moscone Center, and is expected to draw 20,000 researchers, technology developers, and buyers to the world's largest conference and exhibition on photonics.
Admission to the industry program is available at no charge, and registration is required. Information is at www.spie.org/PW18industry.
Industry sessions will run alongside two trade shows — the 1,300-company Photonics West Exhibition, the premier global photonics and lasers exhibition, and the 200-company BiOS Expo, the world's largest biomedical optics and biophotonics exhibition — as well as technical conferences with more than 5,200 leading-edge presentations, seminars, training courses , and other events. Technical conference details and registration information are at www.spie.org/pw.
Expanding programs at Photonics West and other SPIE events underscore the society's long and close connection with industry, noted SPIE Industry Development Director Stephen Anderson.
"The connection dates back to the society's founding, and is a reflection of the reality that industry plays a majority role in the global research and innovation infrastructure," Anderson said. "We aim to help our industry partners do what they do best: apply research and innovation to solving real-world problems with photonics, whether in energy production, advanced manufacturing, efficient lighting, medical diagnostics and treatment, communications, or other areas."
Among the highlights at Photonics West:
Several industry-led workshops will provide grounding in a wide variety of topics, such as laser optics and polarizers, photodetectors, virtual prototyping, and laser materials processing. Panel sessions on silicon photonics, solid-state lighting, and graphene-CMOS integration will provide attendees with perspectives on growth opportunities.
Also noteworthy are:
Recruiters from more than 30 companies are expected at the SPIE Career Center Job Fair (30-31 January).
The 200-company BiOS Expo (27 and 28 January) and the sold-out Photonics West Exhibition with approximately 1,300 exhibiting companies (30 January through 1 February) will showcase new laser systems, optical systems for therapeutic and diagnostic medical applications, game-changing communications capabilities, augmented or virtual reality equipment for industrial and other applications, and much more.
A comprehensive training program offers more than 70 courses in lasers and applications, sensors, imaging, IR systems, and optical and optomechanical engineering, plus professional development seminars and industry workshops.
Industry leaders in silicon photonics and photonic integrated circuits share perspectives in a panel discussion during SPIE Photonics West 2017. From left are Philippe Absil (imec), Peter De Dobbelaere (Luxtera), Douglas Gill (IBM T.J. Watson Research Center), Ashok Krishnamoorthy (Oracle), and Yannick Lize (Intel). Credit: Joey Cobbs Photography |
About SPIE
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves nearly 264,000 constituents from approximately 166 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2016, SPIE provided more than $4 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org
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