A common, effective treatment in hospitals is set to make its way over to the smartphone screen. by Jessica Dolcourt January 6, 2014 5:30 AM PST (Credit: Corning) LAS VEGAS -- The smartphone industry's dirty little secret? That your handheld device is a nice slick surface for hosting germs. Bacteria build-up is the next problem that glass-maker Corning wants to solve with its new Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass 3, unveiled here at CES 2014. Originally discussed 11 months ago, CES is the first time that Corning will demonstrate its germ-busting technology for the phone-loving masses. By infusing ions of silver, a common antibacterial agent, directly into the chemically-strengthened glass, Corning says it can rebuff up to 99.9 percent of certain bacteria that like to make their home on your phone screen. Finger smudges are still a reality, unfortunately, but the glass does promise to keeps some buggers from latching on and building germy little colonies. In a hospital setting, silver is considered an effective -- if expensive -- form of antibacterial wound care. Yet the use of tiny ions folded into the glass means that the cost of raw materials is relatively minimal; far less than 50 cents per phone. So what about that other medical fear, the surge in superbugs that resist attempts to curb their spread? According to David Velasquez, Corning's director of marketing and commercial operations, the use of silver ions in glass "is no different than the many other ways that society goes after bacteria, anything from washing hands...to advanced ways of going after bacteria." In addition to debuting its microbe-deterrent screens, Corning also showed off its commercially available anti-reflective coating solution, complete with test results under abrasives like steel wool. At this time, the antimicrobial and anti-reflective treatments don't play together; phone-makers will have to choose one or the other.
A common, effective treatment in hospitals is set to make its way over to the smartphone screen.
(Credit: Corning) LAS VEGAS -- The smartphone industry's dirty little secret? That your handheld device is a nice slick surface for hosting germs. Bacteria build-up is the next problem that glass-maker Corning wants to solve with its new Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass 3, unveiled here at CES 2014.
Originally discussed 11 months ago, CES is the first time that Corning will demonstrate its germ-busting technology for the phone-loving masses.
By infusing ions of silver, a common antibacterial agent, directly into the chemically-strengthened glass, Corning says it can rebuff up to 99.9 percent of certain bacteria that like to make their home on your phone screen. Finger smudges are still a reality, unfortunately, but the glass does promise to keeps some buggers from latching on and building germy little colonies.
In a hospital setting, silver is considered an effective -- if expensive -- form of antibacterial wound care. Yet the use of tiny ions folded into the glass means that the cost of raw materials is relatively minimal; far less than 50 cents per phone.
So what about that other medical fear, the surge in superbugs that resist attempts to curb their spread? According to David Velasquez, Corning's director of marketing and commercial operations, the use of silver ions in glass "is no different than the many other ways that society goes after bacteria, anything from washing hands...to advanced ways of going after bacteria."
In addition to debuting its microbe-deterrent screens, Corning also showed off its commercially available anti-reflective coating solution, complete with test results under abrasives like steel wool. At this time, the antimicrobial and anti-reflective treatments don't play together; phone-makers will have to choose one or the other.
