WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Visionaries representing industry and government will describe the latest development in key optical technologies as plenary speakers for the 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition. The event, to be held 06 – 10 June 2021 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, USA, is the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. This year's conference will be a blended in-person and virtual format.
Nancy Shemwell, COO, Trilogy Networks, USA; Young-Kai Chen, program manager, Microsystems Technology Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), USA; and Yiqun Cai, vice president, Alibaba Group, China will present compelling technical content on groundbreaking initiatives. The talks will cover edge cloud support and applications in rural territories, advances in photonics and artificial intelligence, and the evolution of networking driven by cloud computing. The plenary program is scheduled for Tuesday, 08 June 2021, 08:00 PDT, UTC-04:00.
"The OFC 2021 plenary will demonstrate the impressive work of leaders in our field who are driving innovations that will inspire our community and benefit society-at-large," said Jun-ichi Kani, OFC General Chair. "Nancy Shemwell, Young-Kai Chen and Yiqun Cai are behind the revolutionary applications of technologies that are rapidly changing communications and computing. We are privileged to have them as headliners for an engaging plenary program, which is always a highly anticipated segment of our international conference and exhibition."
In her presentation titled "Industrial Revolution 4.0 – Gone Country," Nancy Shemwell, COO, Trilogy Networks, USA, will describe the Rural Cloud Initiative, the deployment of distributed edge cloud support and applications across rural America to help close the "digital divide." The initiative will bring the technology platforms required to run advanced solutions software and hardware to create an ecosystem.
Young-Kai Chen, program manager, Microsystems Technology Office at DARPA, USA, will discuss the "Symbiotic Perspective of Photonics and Artificial Intelligence" in his talk. Tremendous advances in photonics and artificial intelligence over the past decades have enabled the next generation of communications and computing.
A veteran in the networking industry, Yiqun Cai, vice president, Alibaba Group, China, will explore how cloud computing became the foundation of the company's infrastructure. In his talk titled "Hammers and Nails: How Technologies and Applications Drive the Evolution of Networking in Alibaba," Cai will share the company's experience building networks to enable the transition to this technology.
Registration Information
Conference registration opens in early 2021. Credentialed media and analysts who wish to cover OFC 2021 can find registration and other essential information in the OFC media room.
About OFC
The 2021 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC) is the premier conference and exhibition for optical communications and networking professionals. For more than 40 years, OFC has drawn attendees from all corners of the globe to meet and greet, teach and learn, make connections and move business forward.
OFC includes dynamic business programming, an exhibition of global companies, and high impact peer-reviewed research that, combined, showcase the trends and pulse of the entire optical networking and communications industry. OFC is co-sponsored by The Optical Society (OSA), the IEEE Communications Society (IEEE/ComSoc), and the IEEE Photonics Society and managed by OSA. OFC 2021, a blended in-person and virtual event, will take place 06 – 10 June 2021 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, USA. Follow @OFCConference, learn more at OFC Community LinkedIn, and watch highlights on OFC YouTube.
About The Optical Society
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.
