Advantest cancels VOICE 2020

With the public health emergency showing no signs of relenting, this decision removes the risk of exposing VOICE participants to potential illness.

“We recognise these are unsettling times for everyone, and sadly do not foresee the climate improving to the level that rationalizes encouraging attendance to the conference,” said Judy Davies, Advantest’s vice president of Global Marketing Communications and VOICE 2020 Developer Conference ambassador. “With the well-being of our employees, partners and customers being Advantest’s first priority, we have cancelled the event in its entirety for 2020.”

Despite earnest consideration to host VOICE as an online event this year, the conference will not move to a virtual format.

Throughout its 14 years, VOICE has always been recognised as a collaboration of minds with face-to-face networking and demonstrations amongst peers, colleagues, sponsors and suppliers. Advantest would like to retain that program “DNA” so instead will focus on making 2021 the most memorable and dynamic program in the history of VOICE.

Designed by test engineers for test engineers, VOICE remains the industry’s most anticipated annual conference due to its extensive learning and networking opportunities.

VOICE 2021 will be held on June 22-23, 2021, with a Workshop Day on June 24, 2021. The venue will remain the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona (pictured). VOICE will only be held in one location in 2021.

The line-up of 2020 keynote speakers have all agreed to speak on the 2021 dates.

On day one, Steve Pateras, senior director of marketing for the Test Automation Group at Synopsys, will deliver a keynote titled “Test Evolves – New Access to Adaptive Learning,” and research specialist Dr. Kate Darling will discuss the future of human-robot interactions in her keynote. Dr. Darling is a leading expert in social robotics who explores humans’ emotional responses to robots.

On day two, the conference will feature industry expert Dan Hutcheson, CEO and chairman of VLSIresearch, covering 5G, IoT, AI and other critical IC markets including key trends.

Fredi Lajvardi, vice president of STEM Initiatives at Si Se Puede Foundation, will discuss how he transformed a group of high school students into a national-champion robotics team.

Using humour and compassion to recount his inspiring journey, Lajvardi will illustrate the need to embrace diversity and invest in people to help others realise their potential.