Fiber optic technology, which
passes light through narrow glass tubing, transmits sound, data and images with
astonishing clarity and speed. Developed first in the 1950s, fiber optic cable
has replaced copper wire in many long-distance telephone lines and is
frequently used to network computers. While fiber optic technology has yet to
fulfill its potential, our telecommunications infrastructure will increasingly
be based on fiber optic technology. Additionally, fiber optics have spawned
medical advances. Now in wide use are endoscopes, devices fitted with optical
fibers that can examine the inside of the body and transmit images onto a video
monitor. Endoscopes have virtually replaced the scalpel, allowing noninvasive
surgery that reduces infection while enabling speedier postsurgical recoveries.
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