This report provides highlights from three conferences during 2014 in the organizations of SPIE (the international society for optics and photonics), IDGA (Institute for Defence and Government Advancement) and IQPC (International Quality & Productivity Center): ? SPIE's annual Defense, Security and Sensing, May 5-9 in Baltimore o The conference provided a general overview of sensors, optics, imaging, lasers and related technologies for defense, security, industry and the environment ? IDGA's annual night vision systems, July 21-23 in Washington DC o The conference was an event for night vision in general, with government officials, military personnel, academia and vendors ? IQPC's Night vision and thermal optics, September 15-17 in London o The conference discussed challenges for current and future night vision systems, with more of the operator in focus compared to the IDGA conference above Three overall main headings/topics were 1) optical components, 2) SWaP-C and 3) robustness. The importance of optical components can be exemplified with DSS Expo, which is a large exhibition associated with the SPIE conference, with about 450 exhibiting companies in 2014 on optics, lasers, sensors, imaging, light sources, optoelectronics etc. The major part of the exhibitors was engaged in optical components like lenses, coatings and optical filters. DSS Expo Optical lenses of lowgermanium content materials are under development for the thermal infrared region, with lower weights and significantly lower prices. Other development trends are multispectral and athermal lenses. Multispectral glasses and coatings transmit wavelengths in a broad spectral range which enable building of a-chromatic lens systems and compact dual-band systems. Athermal lenses maintain the optical focus over a wide range of environmental temperatures. SWaP-C is an acronym which stands for size, weight, power and cost. The largest expected change in electro-optics in 5 years from today is cost reduction. In addition to the trend with reduction of the pixel size (and hence the optics size and the price), the cost reduction is due to the development of cheaper optical components, cheaper detector technology and increasing sales volumes (meaning a lower price per unit). Extensive development work is spent on low SWaP-C imaging systems with maintained performance. One example, with significant progress reported recently, is development of high frame rate (? 1000 Hz) uncooled detector arrays in LWIR, where the standard frame rate for a number of years has been fixed at video frame rate. Robustness of systems was discussed in general, but in particular at the IQPC conference where operational staff in the field had a major role. There is a need for systems with 24 hours per day operation capability, which may involve both extreme illumination levels, from environments with bright sunlight or nighttime tracers to overcast starlight, and very harsh conditions with temperatures varying from well below zero to a hot and/or humid climate. Multisensor technology (e.g. I2 + IR) will extend the capability but also the complexity. The concept of robustness includes a long battery life and small needs (or zero) for maintenance. A special need that was addressed is detection/identification of threats in shadows or behind windows in the urban environment, with the simultaneous presence of bright point sources in the sensor's field of view.