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Nolan’s Notes: The Time is Now

Time marches on—or does it? Researchers in a subfield of wave physics found evidence that it is possible to reverse time. Sort of. Here’s how they do it: Since light can be both a wave and a particle, and just as a regular mirror reflects light, thus changing its location in space, researchers have been able to create a “metamaterial” that reflects photons back on their exact path through time, rather than space.¹

Science can make light seem to go backward, but not forward. This may seem a little esoteric, but it’s still fascinating. While we might all like to go back in time and re-do the past, for most of us, we continue looking forward—just as we’re doing with the March 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine. We’re unashamedly and excitedly looking ahead. Welcome to our IPC APEX EXPO preview issue.

There will be some déjà vu for some of you now that IPC APEX EXPO is back at the Anaheim Convention Center. Fortunately, you can expect the same high-value programs as ever, just in a different location.

We dedicated this issue magazine to exploring the topics, events, speakers, meetings, and themes of IPC APEX EXPO 2024. The weeklong event, April 6–11, features several overlapping programs. There’s the standards committee work at the heart of the IPC mission, and the technical program boasting papers and presentations on some of the most influential research in our industry. There’s the enormous expo portion, of course, and if that weren’t enough, the Electronic Circuits World Convention (a once-every-three years PCB symposium) will take place in parallel with IPC APEX EXPO. Then there are the professional development courses, the special sessions on emerging technical topics, plus keynotes from industry leaders, awards banquets, and networking opportunities galore—both formal and informal. Whether your role is technical or business, and your experience level ranges from new-to-the-industry to seasoned veteran, you will find value throughout IPC APEX EXPO.

What will you find in this issue? Plenty. IPC President John Mitchell begins our coverage with a welcome to the show. IPC Vice President David Bergman shares a primer on ECWC, followed by Chris Jorgensen’s update on IPC Factory of the Future activities. Alicia Balonek, IPC’s trade show director, details the Women in Electronics Reception, and Glenna Carrell introduces us to the expanded activity with the EMS Roundtable programs.

Julia Gumminger explains the technical conference available at IPC APEX EXPO, and Cory Blaylock explores the new apprenticeship programs as part of the workforce development initiatives at IPC.

Also in this issue, there’s a brief history of the IPC APEX EXPO show itself, an explanation of how standards development benefits the industry, and an article about some technical programs of particular value to EMS professionals who are considering digital factory capabilities. I especially enjoyed columnist Mike Konrad’s primer on making the most of your trade show experience. This is valuable information, no matter which show you plan to attend this year.

It seems appropriate that IPC APEX EXPO’s theme for this year is, “What’s Next Becomes Now.” Yes, the times are changing, and as much as we might like to reverse time, we owe it to ourselves to keep up with those changes and move ahead. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “There goes my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.”

Reference:

1. “Light Can Travel Backward in Time (Sort Of),” by Anna Demming, Scientific American, Dec. 5, 2023.

This column originally appeared in the March 2024 issue of SMT007 Magazine.