Synaptics aims to revolutionize the typically “dumb” laptop docking station market by integrating advanced technologies in their products. Competing primarily with USB4, enhanced by Intel’s Thunderbolt 4, and DisplayLink—which Synaptics acquired in 2020—they believe their high-speed capabilities can give them an edge. Synaptics supplies DisplayLink chips to various manufacturers like Anker and Kensington, positioning itself as a key player in smart docking solutions. At a recent tech exhibition, they showcased innovative dock concepts incorporating Astra SOCs, targeted for intelligent applications, such as edge AI and real-time problem diagnostics. Planned features include intelligent bandwidth management to optimize app performance, gesture controls, and universal presence detection for seamless user experiences across devices. This positions Synaptics to take on more demanding use cases in shared environments and automotive sectors. With a USB4 solution expected in the near future, Synaptics is pioneering a shift towards smarter, more efficient docking stations that integrate AI functionalities.
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