Fiber Optics

According to Wikipedia, fiber optic communication is a method of transmitting information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through an optical fiber. Next, the pulses of light form electromagnetic carrier waves that are modulated to carry information.

The inventition of fiber optics came about in the 70s and led to a revolution in the telecommunications industry, contributing highly to the dawning of the Information Age.

Here in the United States we have been promised by phone companies that fiber optic connections would be replacing our current internet connection mechinizims, but that has yet to occur. However, other parts of the world have access to fiber optic networks, enableing them to use the internet at speeds we here cant even imagine, while still paying to same amount of money for internet access. Many Americans are not happy with these facts.

I understand why people would obviously want access to a faster network, but I dont think the situation is that serious. As far as accessing information on the Internet, web sites pop up in seconds and search engines that supply users with millions of links concerning a certain topic only take seconds to generate. People continue to want to get things faster, cheaper and more efficently. I'm not sure that we will ever be able to satisfy this constant desire for more.

One of the main points brought up in class about fiber optic networks was there ability to allow video conferences that would enable people to be more invovled in things like community meetings. This confused me a bit because cant we already do this utilizing the system we have in play now? I have a mac powerbook and I i chat with my parents at home, over 400 miles away, without any problem.

I feel like the fact that the internet now inables anyone with a video camera on there computer to compunicate with others to be quite amazing. I remember when I was little going to Elicote in Disney World and going on the planet earth ride that looks like a giant golf ball from the outside. While on the ride you see a little boy or girl (I dont really remember) saying goodnight to their parent through a video chat technology. I remember thinking, wow wouldnt that be cool. Never actually thinking that this would be possible anytime soon I am shoted and amazed by how easy it has become to do.

Maybe our Internet isnt as fast as others, but we are taking picg strides in new communication technologies and Im fine with that. We don't always need to be the best at everything and I'm sure eventually we will be hooked up to the fiber optic network, but I think right now our country has other things to worry about like our economy, a new president, the job market, a war.... unfortunately the list goes on and on.