Distinguished Alumni share predictions about the future of tech

On Thursday night, students gathered to gain insights from seven of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. The Distinguished Alumni Panel (PHOTOS), facilitated by Michael VanBlaricum, ECE Alumni Association Board president, touched subjects ranging from developing a personal brand to collaboration, but the most exciting question of the evening was “what is one technology on the horizon that you think will have a big impact in the future?” Here are their answers:

Gregg Zehr (BS ’76, MS ’77), President, Amazon Lab126: machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)

Clifford Higgerson (BSEE '62), Advisor, Artiman Ventures and Illuminate Ventures: batteries and alternative energy

Jim Solari (BSEE '77), former President, G & W Electric Company: power storage

Jerome Hubacek (BSEE '85, MSEE '86, PhD '92), Managing Director, Lam Research Corporation: Internet of Things

Nancy Warter-Perez (MSEE '89, PhD '93), ECE Professor, California State University LA: machine learning, swarm robotics, and changing the perception of engineering

John Thode (BSEE '79), Founder and Chairman, Thode Residential Rental Properties: Internet of Things, especially cost, security, and controls; merging of biotechnology and telecommunications, such as wearables

Doyeol Ahn (PhD '88), WB Distinguished Professor of Quantum Electronics, University of Seoul: understanding the brain, especially emotions and intelligence; quantum technology

All of the panelists credited ECE ILLINOIS with providing a solid foundation for their careers, but in retrospect, they realized that what they learned extended beyond the scientific and mathematic specifics of their degrees. The panel unanimously stated that the most important things they learned were how to think scientifically and how to solve problems.