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Wednesday 17 December 2025
From Passive Screens to Intelligent Interfaces: Industrial Displays Advancing a New Era of Edge AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing continue to accelerate worldwide, industrial displays are undergoing a significant transformation. Once regarded merely as passive terminals for visual output, displays have now become intelligent interfaces that connect human–machine interaction, data visualization, and real-time decision-making across diverse smart environments. From collaborative robots and medical systems to EV charging stations, automated factory lines, and self-service kiosks, industrial displays increasingly serve as the first point of contact between AI-driven systems and users, directly influencing operational efficiency, system reliability, and brand perception.Multi-Scenario Demand Accelerates Industrial Display EvolutionAcross factories, medical equipment, and retail environments, the role of industrial displays has expanded far beyond simple information presentation. Autonomous mobile robots and unmanned transport vehicles rely on displays for real-time navigation feedback. Medical diagnostic equipment requires precise visualization to support AI-assisted analysis. Self-service kiosks integrate touch interfaces, sensing, user identification, and edge computing to deliver responsive, data-driven interaction.  According to Roger Ma, Director of Advantech's Industrial Display Solutions Business Unit, industrial sectors exhibit vastly different display requirements. Medical environments demand high accuracy and easy-to-clean designs; outdoor EV charging stations require high brightness and durable weather-resistant builds; robotics and automation systems prioritize responsiveness, stability, and seamless user interaction. These increasingly differentiated use cases are driving industrial displays toward greater flexibility, durability, and customization—creating new growth momentum for the market.Sector-Driven Strategy Accelerates Customization and InnovationAs industrial applications become more complex, a key challenge is integrating display hardware with edge AI, image processing, and intelligent computing. Backed by extensive cross-industry expertise, Advantech adopts a sector-driven strategy, enabling the company to deeply understand the operational challenges of autonomous systems, robotics, factory automation, medical diagnostics, and retail environments. This approach allows Advantech to deliver display solutions tailored to specific industry demands and expedite deployment.Roger Ma pointed out that a major competitive strength lies in Advantech's Design To Order Service (DTOS) capabilities. Its in-house R&D teams cover the entire design spectrum, including mechanical and optical engineering, electronic and software development, touch-bonding integration, assembly precision, and picture-quality tuning. This vertically integrated capability enables stronger quality control and significantly accelerates development cycles.Advantech further enhances customer responsiveness through agile supply chain management and regional manufacturing, enabling rapid customization and efficient adoption of new technologies such as miniLED backlighting. Looking forward, the company is advancing the integration of edge-AI capabilities directly into displays, including embedded cameras, microphone arrays, and sensor modules to support intelligent video conferencing, AI-enabled recognition, and real-time decision-making. With these advancements, displays are evolving into intelligent front-end nodes capable of analysis rather than merely presentation.AI-Enabled Applications: Real Deployment across Factory and Retail EnvironmentsAdvantech's industrial display technologies are already demonstrating real-world impact across multiple vertical markets. In robotic palletizing systems, Advantech's 12.1-inch WXGA (1280 × 800) industrial display serves as the primary interface for complex robotic operations. Offering 400-nit brightness, wide 160/160° viewing angles, and responsive PCAP touch, the display ensures clear visibility and intuitive control even in demanding factory environments.For real-time information visibility on the production line, Advantech deployed the 55-inch VUE-55 digital signage solution, configured as a 2×2 video wall to create a 110-inch large-format display. With a robust design supporting 50,000 hours of LED lifetime and 24/7 continuous operation, the solution delivers reliable performance for critical factory data.In retail environments closely connected to consumers' daily lives, Advantech's technologies also play a critical role. The 850-nit high-brightness, optically bonded IDP31-101W display enhances the touch experience and durability of intelligent cleaning robots. Meanwhile, the VUE-2238 anti-glare touch display provides flexible landscape and portrait installation options for self-service ordering kiosks and hotel counters. Its IP65 front-panel water- and dust-resistant design, along with its color accuracy, not only improves product reliability but also effectively strengthens brand image.Global Reach and Cross-Platform Integration as Key AdvantagesDisplays serve as the critical bridge connecting humans and machines, as well as data and decision-making. In the era of AI and edge computing, industrial displays are shifting from simple information output devices to core interfaces that drive digital transformation and create business value. According to Roger Ma, the competitiveness of Advantech's display product line stems from the company's unique strengths, including its expertise in multi-platform system integration and its extensive cross-industry experience. These capabilities enable Advantech to deliver complete solutions that go beyond standard display products and integrate seamlessly into customers’ overall application ecosystems.Looking ahead, Advantech will continue to provide high-reliability, rapid-deployment intelligent display solutions for global customers. With stronger edge-AI integration and enhanced customization capabilities, the company is poised to lead industrial displays into a new stage of development.Advantech's Industrial Display Solutions.Credit: Advantech
Wednesday 17 December 2025
ASRock Industrial Presents Certified Edge Security and FDO Deployment at FIDO Taipei Seminar
Taipei, Taiwan (December 2, 2025) – ASRock Industrial made its mark at FIDO Taipei Seminar, presenting a keynote on Secure Device integration with FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) deployment technology, demonstrating how automated, trusted, and scalable onboarding is transforming industrial edge AI. As the first industrial computer company in Taiwan to achieve FIDO Device Onboard (FDO) certification, ASRock Industrial continues to raise the bar for industrial cybersecurity. Backed by IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-4-2 certifications, the company delivers a security architecture that spans from product design and manufacturing to deployment, building an unbroken chain of trust at every layer.With its newly introduced Ai FDO solution, ASRock Industrial empowers enterprises to automate device onboarding and configuration from factory to field, reducing risk, accelerating deployment, and enhancing operational resilience. By merging secure device, verifiable trust, and zero-touch deployment, the company continues to push the boundaries of what's possible at the industrial edge, anchored by its leading industrial cybersecurity platform and in collaboration with ecosystem partners, driving transformation across smart manufacturing, smart retail, smart cities, and other critical infrastructure industries.Security Engineered into Every Layer – Secure Device + FDO DeploymentBuilt on the foundation of the FDO trust chain, ASRock Industrial strengthens security across every layer – from secure device to secure deployment, establishing a comprehensive secure edge AI platform that sets a new industrial cybersecurity standard for critical infrastructure.Secure Device: ASRock Industrial's Secure Device architecture delivers multi-layered, industrial-grade protection built on a hardware-rooted and boot-time chain of trust. Leveraging TPM, Secure Boot, and other trusted technologies, it protects data from boot to runtime through defense-in-depth. The architecture reinforces virtualization and I/O isolation, strengthens memory and code safeguards during runtime, and incorporates accelerated cryptography to secure stored data.It also provides a verifiable security baseline for automated deployment and remote management. Fully aligned with the FDO onboarding stages (TO0, TO1, TO2), it verifies device identity, keys, and configuration integrity, reducing tampering risks and establishing trusted readiness for the intelligent edge.  Secure Deployment: Taking trust beyond the device, ASRock Industrial advances security by integrating its Secure Device design with FDO deployment through the Ai FDO solution, developed in accordance with the FIDO Alliance standard. Upon first boot, devices can automatically connect to designated servers to complete authentication, registration, and deployment - shortening time-to-deploy and minimizing manual intervention and human errors. Supporting bare-metal FDO onboarding, Ai FDO combines cryptographic validation and anti-tampering mechanisms to ensure consistent and scalable secure deployment across both cloud and private environments.Certified for Global Standards, Driving FDO Adoption Across the Industrial EdgeASRock Industrial’s secure hardware platform is certified under multiple international standards, including IEC 62443-4-1 (Secure Product Development Lifecycle Requirements) and IEC 62443-4-2 (Technical Security Requirements for IACS Components). Every stage - from design and development to testing - undergoes rigorous risk assessment and security validation to ensure compliance and resilience.As the first industrial computer company in Taiwan to achieve FDO certification, ASRock Industrial strengthens its leadership in trusted and verifiable edge AI platforms. Beyond product certifications, the company continues to enhance secure applications, supply chain transparency, and incident response capabilities - establishing multiple-layer defenses across device, deployment, and operations.At the FIDO Taipei Seminar, ASRock Industrial showcased its integrated Secure Device and FDO deployment solution that accelerates secure onboarding, reduces cyber risks, and ensures deployment consistency. James Lee, Chairman of ASRock Industrial, stated: "Industrial cybersecurity is the new baseline for intelligent edge computing. With field-proven expertise in secure edge AI, ASRock Industrial unifies secure device with FDO-driven deployment, aligned with international standards. Through zero-touch onboarding and a verifiable chain of trust, every device is protected from the first connection and runs reliably at scale - enabling enterprises to deploy faster, operate safely, and expand edge AI with confidence."For more information on ASRock Industrial's secure device and FDO deployment solutions, visit our Website or contact us via Product Inquiry.
Tuesday 16 December 2025
Japan's $65 Billion Bet: Inside the Government's Semiconductor Revival Plan
In 1988, Japanese firms controlled 51% of worldwide chip sales, dominating memory production and manufacturing equipment. Fast forward to 2019, and that share had steadily declined to 10%, a stunning reversal that left the country dependent on foreign suppliers for critical technology.Fusion Worldwide: Japan's $65 Billion Bet: Inside the Government's Semiconductor Revival Plan.Credit: Fusion WorldwideBut 2025 marks a turning point. Armed with unprecedented government investment and strategic partnerships with global tech giants, Japan is mounting an ambitious comeback that could reshape the semiconductor landscape.The Decline: What Happened to Japan's Chip Dominance?The 1986 U.S.-Japan Semiconductor Agreement created challenges. Under pressure from Washington, Tokyo agreed to minimum chip prices and doubled foreign market access from 10% to 20%. These concessions immediately eroded Japanese competitiveness, allowing American, South Korean, and Taiwanese companies to capture market share.Meanwhile, Japan's economy entered the "Lost Decades" after 1990. Corporate investment dried up just as the industry shifted toward a specialized "fabless" model, where design and manufacturing separated. While TSMC pioneered contract manufacturing in Taiwan and Samsung built massive fabs in South Korea, Japanese firms clung to outdated integrated models, trying to do everything in-house.By the 2000s, legendary Japanese chipmakers like NEC, Hitachi, and Toshiba had consolidated and exited.The $65 Billion Comeback StrategyJapan's revival plan centers on massive government intervention. Between 2021 and 2025, Tokyo has allocated approximately $65 billion in semiconductor subsidies, representing a larger share of GDP than America's CHIPS Act.This funding targets three strategic pillars:1. Attracting Foreign Fabs: TSMC's Kumamoto facility, which began operations in 2024, received $8 billion in Japanese subsidies. The plant produces 12-28nm chips for automotive and consumer electronics, with a second fab targeting advanced 6-7nm production by 2027.2. Building Domestic Champions: Rapidus Corporation, backed by Toyota, Sony, and SoftBank, represents Japan's boldest bet. Partnering with IBM, Rapidus aims to mass-produce cutting-edge 2nm chips by 2027 at its Hokkaido facility, a feat only TSMC and Samsung have achieved. The government has committed $12 billion to this project alone.3. Strengthening Equipment Makers: Tokyo Electron, the world's third-largest semiconductor equipment manufacturer, continues receiving R&D support to maintain Japan's edge in critical manufacturing tools.The strategy also includes workforce development, infrastructure upgrades in semiconductor hubs like Kyushu and Hokkaido, and participation in the "Chip 4" alliance with the U.S., South Korea, and Taiwan.Why This Matters GloballyJapan's semiconductor resurgence isn't just about national pride, it addresses critical vulnerabilities in the global supply chain.The 2020-2023 chip shortage exposed dangerous dependencies. When Taiwan made chips became scarce, Japanese automakers like Toyota lost production of 500,000 vehicles. With 75% of advanced chips manufactured in Taiwan, just 100 miles from mainland China, geopolitical tensions threaten the entire tech ecosystem.Japan's revival offers geographic diversification. Its partnerships with TSMC, IBM, and American firms like Micron (which received $3.6 billion for Hiroshima expansion) create alternative production nodes outside the Taiwan Strait flashpoint.Moreover, Japan retains formidable strengths. Companies like Sony control 50% of the global image sensor market, while Japanese firms dominate semiconductor materials—holding 88% of the coater/developer market and 53% of silicon wafers.The Road AheadJapan isn't just catching up, it's positioning for next-generation leadership. Rapidus's 2nm technology, if successful, will power AI computing and autonomous vehicles. TSMC's expanding Kumamoto operations are already attracting 44 supplier companies, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem.The critical test comes in 2027, when Rapidus targets mass production. Success would prove Japan can compete at the cutting edge. Failure would raise questions about whether even $65 billion can overcome decades of decline.One thing is certain, Japan is back in the semiconductor race, and this time, it's playing for keeps.(Article Sponsored by Olivia Seohyun Ju, Vice President of Sales, Korea/Japan, Fusion Worldwide)