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Why Are Fiber Optics So Important? To us non-technical folks, fiber optics technology may seem like an wonderfully complex concept and, of course, there is a vast amount of science and technical language that goes into the description of a technology which allows a series of tiny, hair-like fiber optics cables to beam information around the world using lasers. But, at its core, fiber optics and understanding fiber optics receiver transmitter systems is not that difficult, even for those of us who have never even heard the words “fiber optics cable” before. The Essence of Fiber Optics Receiver Transmitter Systems Born in the 1800s but not fully realized until the 20th century, fiber optics transmits information using pulses of light and/or lasers. These pulses are sent through razor-thin strands of wiring, fiber optics cables, usually made of glass. A receiver then decodes the information, beaming it into homes and offices around the world literally at the speed of light with a quality that is unmatched with today’s technology. Because they use light, many employ the use of fiber optics lighting to illuminate areas or create dramatic lighting effects for signs and displays. The heart of the fiber optics cable is the core, which is the glass strand in which the light travels. The core is surrounded by the cladding, which reflects the light back into the core, keeping it and guiding it along its path. A plastic coating surrounds the core and cladding for protection. One fiber optics cable can send more information than the largest of traditional electronic wiring and several hundred fiber optics cables can be grouped into a bundle. At one end of the cable is a transmitter, which breaks down and then sends the information using light impulses. Once it arrives at its destination, a receiver decodes the information and converts it back into data, where it is then sent along to the appropriate media, be it a television, radio, computer or other. What Does Fiber Optics Do For Me? Besides transmitting large amounts of data almost instantaneously, fiber optics cables are less expensive, take up less space, require little power and are less susceptible to lightening strikes and fire-causing sparking. All these benefits add up to savings for providers of Internet, television, telephone and other applications, and these savings are passed along to consumers. Fiber optics cables also are used in medical imaging and surgical technologies, as well as engineering and mechanical inspections and maintenance. More and more power generation facilities are relying on fiber optics as well. With little to no signal degradation, crystal clear communications, high-speed Internet connections and digital cable have become realities. While you may not see the miles of fiber optics cable buried under you, you benefit from this revolutionary technology every day. Fiber Optic Technology in our Everyday Lives The most exotic technologies eventually become universal, so common that one doesn’t even notice them anymore. Fiber optic technology has made that transition. Once the exclusive wonder of the laser labs and researchers, it can now be found in everything from children's toys to world-wide communications. What Makes Fiber Optic Technology So Common? To put it the most simply, defects make the technology so common. The primary use of fiber optic technology is the transmission of digital data. This data consists of intermittent on and off bursts, making it quite fragile. The amount of data a line can hold is controlled by the rapidity of the switching it can handle, which is in turn determined by its purity. This is why testing is so vital to the equation. Without it, there would be no way to sort out the best fibers for data usage. Therefore, before it is ever bundled into a fiber optic cable, each fiber has to pass stringent tests for data quality. This creates a certain amount of waste in the form of discarded fibers. While these fibers cannot pass the sensitive data cleanly, they still hold onto the property of transmitting light waves. Why Let A Good Thing Go To Waste? The rejected fibers don’t have to be discarded. They are still able to channel light to whatever location the user wants. This has given rise to everything from toys to modern efficient lighting, all based on the same principles of fiber optic technology. Some of the earliest people to use the waste fiber optics were special effects model makers. The fibers made it easier to add realistic lighting to the models without adding the heat that could melt the fragile plastics. It wasn’t long before these very same properties came to the attention of designers. Soon, little penlight fiber optic toys could be seen anywhere there were dark events. Then they entered the home. Soon no coffee table was complete without the colorful little fiber optic bonsai tree. Over time, the designs have become more elegant, blending the fiber optic technology in a less obtrusive way. Now, designers have started using fiber optics to actually replace home lighting applications, allowing a much higher level of efficiency These hidden design fads have brought the little light pipes home, made them a part of our normal everyday lives, and make our lives better for it. As the designers and decorators learn more about the fiber optic technology, the lighting designs will grow in enlightenment. Ho is Laser and Fiber Optics Affecting our Future? We are living in an age in which technology is in the forefront of moving us forward as a civilization. It seems that with each passing month new kinds of information give way to new pieces of technology which unravel and give way to more and more advances that push us into an age that may, to some observers, become so dependent on technology that we might be beyond salvation. Laser and fiber optics, computerized technology, and everything between are at the center of this technological revolution. Fear or Fascination? For some it is something to fear, but for others it is something to be fascinated by. This particular author, mind you, stands somewhere fixed firmly in the middle. On one hand, I am completely enamoured with technology and fascinated by the possibilities. On the other hand, however, I find myself fixated firmly with the notion that above all else, humanity must be accountable for itself and cannot be left to the vices of computerized systems to help keep us in balance. That said, laser and fiber optics are fast pushing the realm of technology into new and exciting places. Responsible for the information flow between devices such as fax machines and telephones, laser and fiber optics technology is a piece of the puzzle that helps keep humans connected and in touch with each other. It is, as well, part of the connecting “fiber” that draws most scientific advances together and will inevitably help integrate society with the blossoming tools awaiting us in the future. Fight or Flight: The Nature of Technology and Humanity Humanity and technology was a meeting that has been millions of years in the making and has been fostered since man first discovered that tools could be used to help bring things closer together. Even crude sticks and stones were used as technological advances, furthering the notion that technology builds on top of technology and creates inwardly to advance outwardly. In other words, without laser and fiber optics to serve as building blocks to furthering our scientific realm, we would certainly be further behind in the race. Granted, this might all be a bit too alarming for some of us. Regardless of your point of view the technological machines of our time are marching beside us in the evolutionary process and will evolve, peacefully or forcibly, into our machines of tomorrow. Laser and fiber optics will probably be replaced by other ways to transmit light energy, and computers will probably be replaced by other ways to communicate with other machines. There is no telling where this might go.
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