The Century of Photonics with Glenn Jackling of Applied Image

 

The 20th century was the century of the electron. But that’s old news. The 21st century is the century of the photon, and photonics technology is revolutionizing every industry from Pro AV to IoT to AEC, powering fiber-optics, improved homeland security and topographical scanning. The evolution of the products themselves has also been tremendous. Where as previously, photonics were used more for inspection of products, photonics are now the core components powering those products, creating a chain reaction that goes all the way up to internet services, cloud storage, e-commerce, and even deep space exploration. How and why exactly has the technology grown so much, and how do manufacturers stay ahead of the diverse and expanding markets photonics serve?

Here to give us his insight is Glenn Jackling, President of Applied Image. “The diversity of photonics technology is what’s staggering to me,” Jackling said. He breaks down the latest and greatest in photonics, from 3D imaging to augmented reality. With these innovations, however, have come challenges in production; projects reaching into microscopic and monstrous sizes are pushing the envelope of Applied Image’s and other photonics companies’ capabilities. “Light is being used in instrumentation and devices in so many different ways, and what we find is a lot of those devices need to be calibrated, and standardized to the point where they can be compared lab to lab,” Jackling said.

Fresh off a meeting with the Rochester Regional Photonics Cluster, Jackling clues us in to the dramatic local growth of the New York photonics industry as well, and how it’s a positive representation of where the global industry is headed down the road.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Software & Electronics Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @TechMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

telecom
Predictive Networks: How Baron Weather and GIS are Strengthening Telecom Operations
February 12, 2026

Severe weather is no longer an occasional disruption for telecom providers—it’s becoming part of the operating environment. During Hurricane Ida in 2021, the Federal Communications Commission reported that nearly 1,000 cell sites across Louisiana and Mississippi went offline. In 2024, Hurricane Milton left more than 12% of cell sites in impacted areas of Florida…

Read More
The DAISY Foundation: Impacting Nurse Careers Through Recognition
The DAISY Foundation: Impacting Nurse Careers Through Recognition
February 12, 2026

Recognition is often described as a “nice to have” in healthcare, but on this episode of Care Anywhere, it’s framed as something far more essential. Host Lea Sims sits down with Deb Zimmermann, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer of The DAISY Foundation, and Bonnie Barnes, FAAN, co-founder of the organization, to explore…

Read More
Revpar Media
The Origin of Revpar Media: Host Calvin Tilokee’s Journey from Revenue Management to Performance Storytelling
February 11, 2026

Something has shifted in hotel marketing, and you can feel it. In a landscape where every property can publish polished visuals, aesthetics alone are no longer enough to stand out—or to convert attention into bookings. Research increasingly shows that social media now plays a meaningful role in how travelers choose destinations and plan trips,…

Read More
spiral growth
Spiral Growth: The Career Strategy That Builds Real Leaders
February 11, 2026

Leadership pipelines are under pressure. Companies are moving faster, roles are becoming more cross-functional, and high-potential talent is expected to deliver beyond narrow job descriptions earlier in their careers. At the same time, the World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of workers’ core skills will need to evolve by 2030 to keep pace with…

Read More