Apple Executive Behind Breakthrough Hardware Technologies to Retire

The Apple executive responsible for the company's multitouch technology, health sensors, Touch ID, and Face ID is set to retire from the company, Bloomberg reports.

ipad air touch id feature
Steve Hotelling currently works as a vice president reporting to senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji. During his tenure, Hotelling significantly contributed to the development of some of Apple's most innovative and complex technologies used in the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro headset. Hotelling's name appears on hundreds of patents, including filings related to multitouch displays and ‌Touch ID‌.

Hotelling led the company's camera engineering team and was involved in the development of custom sensors. His work oversaw the development of the depth-sensing technologies crucial for augmented reality experiences and components fundamental to haptic feedback and ProMotion displays.

Hotelling has also been a prominent representative for Apple in numerous legal trials throughout his two decades with the company. He was a key figure in a patent case against Samsung in the last decade and recently served as a crucial witness in a trial involving Masimo, which sued Apple over patents related to health sensors.

Despite the significance of his departure, Apple has not yet shared an official statement regarding Hotelling's retirement. His responsibilities are apparently being distributed among several of Srouji's direct reports, with Alan Gilchrist taking over the management of the camera and depth sensor teams, and Wei Chen taking over display technologies. Apple's hardware technologies group continues work on a custom 5G cellular modem, new wireless chips, microLED displays, and a non-invasive blood sugar sensor.

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Top Rated Comments

icanhazapple Avatar
21 months ago
Here's to the brilliant ones! Thank you, Steve!
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vertsix Avatar
21 months ago
Wow, I didn't know about this guy. Now I know I should've. I know all about Tony Fadell and how unrecognized he was for his work on the iPod and iPhone, but not this guy. Legend. Hopefully he has an enjoyable retirement.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
21 months ago
Happy retirement!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
21 months ago

Wonder why: age, health, family, or management?
Because he doesn’t want to work anymore? It happens.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
evertjr Avatar
21 months ago
It's amazing how many incredible people work at Apple and deliver wonderful things to the world. This man surely deserve a happy retirement and spend time with other things.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
21 months ago
That man deserves a retirement. I hope he's beyond wealthy after everything he's contributed to making Apple a multi trillion dollar company.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)