Fiber Optics

Overview Would you believe that fiber optics technology has developed over the course of the last few thousand years? The first known use of glass occurred nearly 5,000 years ago, and the Romans drew glass into fibers over 2,000 years ago. Modern fiber optics technology developed to its current functionality in the late 20^th century. It is capable of enormous data transfer rates across long distances with excellent reliability--so reliable that some experts predict that fiber optics will someday be used for virtually all communications networks. Modern fiber optics technology, first used for telephone data transfer, is now an essential part the Internet backbone and other computer networks.

How Fiber Optics Technology Works Most of us have heard about fiber optics technology in relation to telephone networks. Fiber optics is also an important part of the Internet’s infrastructure. However, very few of us understand exactly what fiber optics are, how the technology works, and what direction fiber optics will take communications in the future. Visit Webopedia to read a definition of “fiber optics”. HowStuffWorks.com provides an interesting essay about the basics of fiber optics. Another source of fiber optics information is the Corning Optical Fiber Information Center 

Do you want to teach yourself the technical aspects of fiber optics technology? If so, visit the tutorial at www.arcelect.com/fibercable.htm  for a good source for learning about the more technical aspects of fiber optics.

History of Fiber Optics Although widely implemented in only the last 20 years or so, fiber optics technology has been in development for many decades. Optical communication systems have been in use for more than 200 years, starting with Claude Chappe’s “optical telegraph” in the 1790s. More recently, in the 1940s, doctors began to use fiber optic illuminators made out of bent quartz tubes. Modern fiber optic cables used for communications networks are the result of many decades of experimentation by scientists from around the world. For a complete history of the development of modern fiber optics technology, read “A Short History of Fiber Optics” by Jeff Hecht. Also by the same author, is a timeline of the development of fiber optics. It provides an interesting perspective on the different technologies that were necessary before modern fiber optics technology could be developed. Another similar timeline that includes information on specific people can be found at this About.com page.

Uses of Fiber Optics What are the current and future uses of fiber optics technology? What are some of the fiber optics products on the market today? To answer these questions, visit the page at www.norlandprod.com/fiberoptic/foindex.html. Here you’ll see the newest products available. Current news articles, discussions, and other information about fiber optics technology are all readily available at Web sites such as FiberOpticsOnline.com . 

Additional Links The FOA (Fiber Optic Association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educational programs, the certification of fiber optics technicians, and the promotion of this technology in general. Visit their home page at www.thefoa.org.