Illumination Fiber

Medical professionals utilize fiber optics embedded in surgical instruments to look at inaccessible areas of the body on a daily basis.  In these applications, bundles of fiber perform the action of transmitting light and images to the surgeon and his or her accompanying team.

The automotive industry is expanding the use of plastic optical fibers for illumination within an auto, bus or truck.  For years, the automotive industry used plastic optical fibers for the illumination of dashboards of top-of-the-line cars.  Now plastic optical fibers integrated in the vehicle provide the necessary signal transmission of functions by using a single high-intensity source of light which is disseminated to different areas of the vehicle by fibers.

Optical fibers can be used to transmit light for illumination in a wide range of applications: swimming pools, broadcasting studios, museums and galleries, buildings and many other areas requiring light that needs to be distributed from a single source.  Plastic and glass optical fibers are also used to transmit light for signage.

Both plastic and glass optical fibers can be used for signs in a wide range of applications.  Replacing static signs, optical fibers enable the use of changing colors, animations and images.  Retailers have found success in increasing the attention of potential customers through the usage of these characteristics.  Bundles of fibers and large core optical fiber can also be used to replace neon signs thus improving safety, reliability and reducing energy costs. 

Specialty Fiber

The growth of IT sector worldwide has spurred demand for specialty fiber as well.  Using fiber optics, publishers transmit original and revised manuscripts at speeds unparalleled before.  This has been brought about because costs achieved through economies of scale and the large bandwidth capacity of fiber optics.  Authors, printers and publishers can be around the world and work on the same material on a collaborative platform.

Telecommunications through fiber optic lines are enabling educational institutions to disseminate programs within local school systems, state systems, across the nation and the world, reaching remote locations previously unable to access learning and instruction.

Distance learning is also providing the opportunity to access knowledge from world-renowned scholars and teachers.  These capabilities will impact when, where, how and what students will be able to learn as well as how educational institutions are managed.

A major growth industry is the linking of computers together with terminals, printers, severs, etc. on local area networks.  These networks are used in offices, all types of businesses, hospitals, universities, government offices and research and development laboratories. In buildings and campus settings, local area networks are connected together in wide area networks using fiber optics.