Digital lifestyle products can reach uncharted levels of functionalities with the integration of human interface technologies made possible by Synaptics, a company with its sole focus on advancing the human interface. A pioneer in capacitive sensing technology, the Silicon Valley firm is the market leader in touch-screen solutions for the smartphone and tablet. The acquisition of Validity Sensors and Renesas SP Drivers over the past 18 months expanded Synaptics' leadership in fingerprint sensing and touch and display integration solutions for smartphones. With research and development increasingly available in China, the company foresees a surge in new product development in Asia to suit varying lifestyles and address increasing digital security risks. "There's plenty of steam left in the smartphone, tablet and notebook category," says Rick Bergman, president and CEO of Synaptics. "We want to grow our footprint within this segment by providing innovative solutions." A major player in the touchpad segment with two-thirds market share, Synaptics maintains sizeable operations on the mainland, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Sixty per cent of its 1,800 employees are spread across Asia. "We believe in bringing true engineering capabilities right next to our customers," Bergman says. With its robust integration capabilities, the company is eyeing strategic partnerships to develop innovative applications for vehicles and wearables, along with new functionalities for smartphones and tablets. Rapid growth is expected within emerging device categories that have human interface aspects, including the internet of things. "People want devices that make their lives better, are easier to use and more intuitive - that's what Synaptics is focused on," Bergman says. "We are the innovator in the human interface space, so we would like to be the strategic partner of technological leaders in this particular area." Investors seeking exposure in high-growth markets for consumer electronics can also take advantage of Synaptics' firm positions in Asia. Synaptics http://www.synaptics.com
