Jeff Evenson Takes the Stage at CES | Corning

Corning innovations are vital components in the fast-growing Internet of Things (IoT), in which everything from fitness gadgets to massive hotel security systems can be managed with the flick of a finger on a mobile touchscreen.

Corning Chief Strategy Officer Jeff Evenson explained the company’s role in this powerful trend before a packed ballroom at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.  Evenson's remarks were part of a keynote presentation hosted by Samsung on the many ways smart devices are connecting to transform modern life.

With its advanced glass, optical fiber, and other innovations, Evenson told the audience of 2,600, “Corning is helping create a world of communication, collaboration, and connectivity.”

Evenson described how a household surface like a refrigerator door – with the help of LCD substrates -- can become a brilliant, high-performance display device to help family members coordinate and manage every aspect of their lives. In addition, Corning® Gorilla® Glass helps the appliance resist damage.

And to transmit the massive amount of data between devices, IoT will continue to demand optical fiber and wireless solutions, Evenson noted. Experts predict that network traffic will grow more than 20 percent annually over the next five years, reaching a staggering 2 zettabytes per year by 2020.

Corning’s connectivity solutions, he said, will “ensure on-demand information and robust connections, whether you’re researching a recipe online in your smart kitchen or live-streaming video.”

Evenson’s appearance in the Samsung keynote reflected the global electronics giant’s commitment to cross-industry collaboration as it brings IoT to life. Also included in the hour-long presentation were representatives from Microsoft and BMW. Experts from the hospitality, medical, security, and financial industries also shared their perspective on how connected smart devices are changing how people work and live.

As many as 6.4 billion connected devices will make up IoT by the end of this year, say market researchers from Gartner, Inc. – and that number should soar to 25 billion as soon as 2020.

“It’s not a future vision. It’s happening now. IoT is in sync with life,” said Dr. W.P. Hong, president of Samsung SDS, the company’s IT services subsidiary.

And to continue creating benefits ranging from smart energy management to public safety and improved logistics, he added, collaboration with companies like Corning and other leaders is essential.

“Partnerships are the underpinning of IoT success,” he said. With partners working closely on every aspect of implementation, “IoT will deliver tremendous value – for us personally, for cities where we live, and ultimately for the whole of society.”

Corning is ideally suited to be an influential player as the IoT shapes daily life, said Dr. M.K. “Badri” Badrinarayan, vice president and technology executive for Science and Technology at Corning.

“Corning has such a diverse portfolio – we make display substrates, we have fiber optics that connect things together, we can modify surfaces to enrich a touch experience,” said Badri. “Corning is one of the very few companies that can bring all these technologies together, which is what is needed for IoT.”