David (Dave) Slobodin

David (Dave) Slobodin is a highly experienced technology leader and innovator in the field of display and optoelectronic technologies. He is currently the Managing Director at IdeaFarm LLC, a consulting firm he founded to help high-tech companies grow their businesses.12

Professional Background

Slobodin has over 30 years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and commercializing leading-edge display, optoelectronic, and computing devices.2 His career has been marked by significant contributions to the development of innovative display technologies.

Education::

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT (1981)
• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University (1987)1

Key Professional Roles::

• General Manager of Hardware at Microsoft (until 2017)
• Vice President of Engineering and Manufacturing at Perceptive Pixel (joined in 2009)
• Held positions at White Electronics Designs, InFocus, Silicon Light Machines, and Greyhawk Systems1

Notable Achievements

1. Microsoft Surface Hub: Led the engineering team that developed this large all-in-one multi-touch display, which redefined team collaboration devices.1

2. Large-scale Multi-touch Displays: At Perceptive Pixel, he led the team that developed and produced the world's largest (84-inch) projected-capacitive multitouch/multi-pen displays.1

3. Display Innovations: Developed various groundbreaking products, including:

   • One of the first automated display optical-bonding processes
   • The world's thinnest DLP rear-projection display
   • Early wireless projection systems
   • MEMS grating light-valve displays
   • Laser-addressed projection LCDs1

4. Government Research: Managed the US government-funded display research program at DARPA, promoting early development of technologies such as AMLCD, DLP, polysilicon TFT, and OLED.1

5. Intellectual Property: Holds 38 US patents, demonstrating his innovative contributions to the field.1

Leadership Style

Slobodin is known for his tech-savvy leadership approach. He maintains the respect of his professional staff by leading by example and demonstrating a deep understanding of various roles and responsibilities within his teams.3

David Slobodin's extensive experience and contributions to display technology have made him a respected figure in the industry, now leveraging his expertise to help other high-tech companies grow through his consulting firm, IdeaFarm LLC.