I’ve commented in the past about how ISSCC, largely in contrast to other shows, had a distinctly binary color – or lack of color – scheme. As usual, I approached the escalator this year with the expectation that I’d be able to give my retinal cones a well-deserved vacation.

Instead, I had to check to make sure I was in the right place. ISSCC has made a dramatic shift towards the casual. Even where suits are in evidence, they are much less black than I seem to recall from years past. I don’t know if this has been a gradual boil-the-frog change that I’m just noticing or if this year is indeed a step function.

It also seems to be ever so slightly less male-exclusive. Although that’s definitely by degrees… The Y-chromosome factor here is still overwhelmingly dominant, to the extent that they converted a Ladies’ restroom into another Men’s restroom to handle the imbalance. But progress is progress…