Uses and Industries

There are two major applications of fiber optic technology. The most prevalent industry is communications. Within this industry there a hierarcy of applications.

• Long distance transmission : cross country back bone systems
• Metropolatian transmission: large city communication centers where activity is heavy
• Wide area networks: cable Television systems and computer network hubs
• Local area networks: systems that are localized such as health care facilities and major engineering facilities which require high speed and high capacity of data movement
• Submarine distribution : applications where conventional wire based carriers are less effective and more costly than optical systems
• Secured communication systems: applications where security is a major concern, such as the CIA, FBI, branches of the Military and Research
• High speed, high data rate systems such as supercomputing and major swtiching plants
• Sattelite communications interfacing: applications where large bandwidths are employed and the advantages of speed are maximized
• High tech control systems such as Rail and subway systems, where proximity of moving equipment is integral to safe operations.

Other applications of this technology encompass the instrumentation industry. These applications carry speed, safety, size and economy as their major advantages over other wire based technologies.

• Medical Instrumentation: used primarily as a component application optics allow a great deal of flexibility, limited intrusion to body surfaces and improved lighting and camera application of medical equipment in delicate procedures
• Sensors for industrial controls : The ability to sense a miriad of parameters such as pressure, sound waves, structural strrrain, heat and motion make this application almost without limit. Use of this technology in hazardous or corrosive environments is extremely effective.
• Aerospace industry: where weight is a factor in all aerospace industry applications, this is a particularily appealing aspect of technology currently in development.
• Laser technology: The transmission of laser signals for simple control applications or even laser cutting and drilling make fiber optics an attractive integral part of these devices.