Fiberoptics
FiberopticsDescription Fiber Optics
"A friend of mine once said that the trouble with being an architect is that everyone is an architect; everyone knows what's good and what's bad. I seem to remember the same story told by an economist. In physics we don't have that problem" (Sobel ix).
Fiber optic technology has been inevitable since the first mention or speculation of light by Pythagoras in the 6th century B.C. (Sobel 1) Because of its flexibility and comparatively low cost (to copper cable), fiber optic-systems are now being used in almost every situation in everyday life. Fiber optic technology is fairly new though, considering the first uses of fiber optics were mainly for illumination of signs and for toys. Recently though, technology has started to catch up and the uses of fiber optics are numerous.
Fortunately for the high-tech society of today, some scientists and technicians researched the avenues of fiber optics. Fiber optics can be seen in telephone systems, in the military, in cars, in medicine, and in many other fields of study. For all industries and professions, "Fiber optics allow huge amounts of voice, data and video imagery to be transmitted instantaneously, allowing for photographic-quality images, interactive video conferencing and other business multimedia uses" (Inman News Features 1). It's becoming possible to transmit audio, video and data signals over great distances using these fibers of pure glass or plastic.
Today, fiber optic technology has almost become a necessity in everyday business. Because fiber optics can simultaneously transmit two audio signals across a single fiber optics cable without interfering with each other (Nelson, Garat, Wong 1), many companies have changed, or are in the process of changing their connections to fiber optic cables rather than copper cables. Fiber optic cables are lighter, take up less space and are less expensive than the cumbersome copper cable that has been used previously by telephone companies and the military. Telephone companies have created international connections using optical fibers. A fiber optics communication link provides a virtually noise free medium for transporting complex signals without distortion and interference. (Nelson, Garat, Wong 1). The military is buying fiber for portable battlefield communications systems not only because of its superior performance and light weight, but also because fiber-optic systems have not been proven to be buggable or tappable. (Myring 32) These reasons explain the extensive use of fiber optics for the transmission of confidential and critical data and commands between the cockpit and all parts and systems of high-tech fighter aircraft. Fiber optic technology can be a matter of life and death. In the medical field, recent advances involve using fiber optics to explore the body from the mouth down through the stomach and into the intestines. In the same way, it has become possible to visually...
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