At CES 2013, Lowell McAdam, Chairman and CEO of Verizon spoke to the progress technology has made in recent years, which has been more than impressive, to say the least, and of what is ahead for Verizon and how its technology is currently being put to use.

“The search for the next big thing defines the technology industry,” said McAdam, who says there are many questions to consider when aiming to improve today’s technology: How can we make this easier? How can technology make my business more efficient? How can we use technology to change our lives for the better? 

Verizon has expanded into the cloud space, launching a network of cloud data centers over the world, which it uses along with its 4G LTE network to provide the best services to customers, helping them better their business and personal lives.

Video is viewed as much on computers as it is on televisions, and increasingly on mobile devices. People can watch video content anywhere on whatever devices they choose, through mobile apps or direct services. Verizon seeks to make this experience even easier, breaking down the barriers between the home and outside world.

This means more than just watching TV shows or YouTube; the video technology is being put to use in life-saving services such as firefighters and hospitals. Speaking of hospitals, Verizon is also helping them connect patients, doctors, and devices to share data on a large scale, providing secure and effective data sharing and analytics to keep patients and doctors connected across locations and move information quickly.

Roger Goodell, commissioner of the national football league, joined McAdam on the stage, discussing how technology has allowed the NFL to keep in touch with fans and provide content to them even during the off-season. NFL Mobile on Verizon is used to not only stream videos, but deliver extra content, and even change the camera angles during games. This interactivity gets fans more involved with what they watch, and gives them the experience they want – also giving them a tighter connection with their operator.

Paul Mascarenas, CTO & VP of Ford Research and Innovation discussed safety features and Sync, two key components in Ford’s vehicle strategy. Sync uses smartphone technology to connect the car and user’s phone and has proven very useful for car and driver/passenger safety. Users can run an app on their mobile device to interface with their car – the next step will be using the cloud to connect the car and driver, and following that, whatever the next new technology will be.

Cloud and mobile technology is being used to help with shopping, home security, and more. Now, Verizon intends to use the technology to take on social challenges, such as energy conservation. Verizon’s technology can help calculate energy uses and ways to save on it, and put those changes into effect immediately, saving power across the grid with the press of a button.

As he wrapped up, McAdam noted that technology has the potential to meet life’s problems, and make the world a better place for all of us. Thus, he announced the Verizon Powerful Answers Awards: a chance to take advantage of converged platforms to drive positive social change. Ten million dollars will be awarded to the innovations that provide the best answers in healthcare, education, and sustainability, and Verizon will work with the winners to bring those winning ideas to market. The submission process will be announced later this quarter.

McAdam and guests addressed the many ways in which technology is being used today to better our lives, not only by making them more convenient, but by providing help in safety, security, and healthcare. The announcement of the Answers Awards was a great way to end it, inviting new innovations and inventions to help the world become a better place. Regardless of your choice of carriers, this is an impressive gesture.