Going over details for the upcoming year plan, primarily involving the KiCad/Technical Workshops. 

At the time of the event, join us on Zoom https://simnet.zoom.us/j/92184919783?pwd=GHpuXcsNStX6j6dGIk5uuFt741bVbf.1

Abstract:
The arrival of Wi-Fi 7 in early 2024, based on IEEE 802.11be, marks a paradigm shift in wireless networking—moving from single-link connections toward collaborative multi-link operation, enabling greater capacity and lower latency. With multi-link operation, Wi-Fi 7 can achieve a maximum throughput of 30 Gbps.

While this peak throughput supports most existing applications, it falls short of meeting the strict reliability demands of emerging use cases such as the metaverse, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, and industrial automation. These challenges are driving the development of the next generation—Wi-Fi 8.

To address these needs, the IEEE 802.11 Task Group bn has been established to define Ultra High Reliability (UHR) PHY and MAC layers. Their goal is to improve WLAN reliability, reduce latency, enhance manageability, and increase throughput across varying signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).

In this talk, we will identify and describe the key PHY and MAC elements that will shape Wi-Fi 8, which will operate in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. We will also discuss the enabling mechanisms under design and present performance results where appropriate.

Bio:
Dr. Cheng Chen is a Senior Staff Wireless Standards Engineer at Intel Corporation. He leads Intel's standardization efforts on Wi-Fi sensing (802.11bf) and integrated millimeter wave (802.11bq) within the IEEE 802.11 Working Group, as well as Intel's Wi-Fi certification programs within the Wi-Fi Alliance. He currently serves as Editor for the IEEE 802.11bq Task Group, Technical Editor for the Wi-Fi 7 Technical Task Group, and Vice Chair of the Wi-Fi Sensing Task Group in the Wi-Fi Alliance. He previously served as Technical Editor for the Wi-Fi 6 Technical Task Group (July 2021–June 2022).

Dr. Chen is a Senior Member of the IEEE and an IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer for the 2025–2026 term. He is an active contributor and voting member of multiple IEEE 802.11 standards, including 802.11ay (Next-generation 60 GHz Wi-Fi), 802.11be (Extremely High Throughput), 802.11bf (WLAN Sensing), 802.11bn (Ultra High Reliability), and 802.11bq (Integrated Millimeter Wave). He also contributes to several Wi-Fi Alliance certification programs, including Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, and Wi-Fi sensing.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions across standards forums, Dr. Chen has received multiple awards, including the IEEE Standards Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to IEEE 802.11ay and the Wi-Fi Alliance Leadership Recognition Award for the Wi-Fi 6 launch.

Dr. Chen earned his B.E. degree in Electronics and Information Engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2011, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, in 2013 and 2016, respectively.

In an era where AI technologies are rapidly transforming industries and redefining possibilities, it is crucial to explore both the innovations driving this change and the responsibilities that come with it. Today, we will delve into a diverse array of topics that highlight the multifaceted nature of AI and its profound impact on our lives.

Our sessions will cover the latest developments in Large Language Models and Foundation Models, exploring efficient fine-tuning, multilingual adaptation, and the role of LLMs as knowledge bases. We will also examine the evolution of AI agents, focusing on autonomous task completion, multi-agent collaboration, and the integration of external knowledge for robust decision-making.

In the realm of Vision and Multimodality, we will explore the integration of text, image, and video understanding, as well as advanced techniques like zero-shot learning and self-supervised learning. Our discussions on MLOps for LLMs will provide insights into best practices for training, deploying, and evaluating large models.

We will also address the critical areas of Knowledge-Grounded Reasoning, On-Device Learning, and the ethical dimensions of AI, including bias mitigation, privacy preservation, and the detection of misinformation.

Talk tracks are broadly classified but not limited to,

Less Stress? Less Turnover? Better Team Performance?

Higher Morale? Sense of Fulfillment?

How about All of the Above?

Engineers and software developers tell me that they would like to have less stressful workplaces.  Leaders tell me that they would like to have higher performing teams.  Executives and HR professionals tell me that the costs related to high turnover are astronomical.  Colleagues and friends tell me that they are burned out and have little sense of fulfillment at work, maybe at home too.

That’s the bad news. 

But the good news is that it is possible to turn that around, yes, all of it, with one single cultural shift.  One magic bullet. I know. I’ve watched it happen.

What is that cultural shift, that magic bullet, and how can you get it?  Kind of like asking, “Where is that ice cream, and how can I get it?”

Join us for an entertaining and insight-provoking experience, maybe one that will change your life!

Leslie Martinich, a computer science pioneer,  wrote a natural language interface (in 1985) to her company's financial planning system, designed algorithms for distributed and parallel processing in order to enable AI (in 1988),  wrote operating systems, APIs, and advanced communication software, and led her team to deliver the first commercial version of Remote Procedure Calls (RPC). Her early work in Artificial Intelligence laid the groundwork for today's breakthroughs and provided her with a deep understanding of how to create successful innovations.

In the middle of her career, she made a pivotal realization: project failures weren't due to technical hurdles, but rather rooted in managerial and leadership challenges. Determined to rectify this deficiency, she built leadership programs which she has presented across 6 continents (sorry, Antarctica!), focused on innovation and preparing effective leaders.  70% of participants in her year-long leadership development program have advanced their careers to the VP or C-Suite level.

Leslie peppers her talks with stories from her career, real stories, hilarious stories, that developers relate to.  She engages the audience with activities that they'll remember. 

She cares deeply about the careers of her colleagues and friends; that’s why she helps leaders learn how to improve their skills in engagement, communication, and trust, so that her colleagues and friends can have more fulfilling, more productive, and less stressful careers. Engaged, trusted leaders inspire teams, reduce turnover, deliver, and drive towards excellence in quality. 

She has been a leader within IEEE, serving as the Central Texas Section Chair, selected as the 2012 IEEE-USA Congressional Fellow for Science and Technology Policy, serving on the IEEE Awards Board, serving as the VP of Publications for the Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS), and being a Distinguished Lecturer, as well as many more volunteer roles.