Dave Gillespie

Dave Gillespie is a Synaptics Fellow and one of the pioneering architects of modern human-machine interface (HMI) technology. Over a career spanning more than 30 years, he has helped shape the touch technologies that power billions of devices worldwide. Joining Synaptics through his work with co-founder Carver Mead, Gillespie played a key role in the company’s evolution from neural-inspired computing research to becoming a global leader in touch sensing. Working alongside early engineering leader Tim Allen, he helped develop the hybrid analog-digital architecture that became the foundation of Synaptics’ touch solutions. Gillespie is a named inventor on more than 80 granted patents globally, including foundational innovations in capacitive touch sensing and user interaction. He holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).