Fiber Optic Technology - Coursework Example

Fiber Optic Technology Fiber Optic Technology Introduction The impact of emerging technologies on nearly each and every field of business and society cannot be overemphasized over the last couple of years (Udd & Spillman, 2011). Whether by their pledge to enhance business and societies, emerging technologies such as nanotechnology, cloud computing, social media and fiber optics among other technologies, are in the frontline of shaping today’s society and business for a brighter tomorrow. To some extent, the emergence of these technologies has been motivated by various key pursuits and needs of businesses and society. The yearn for a more efficiency of cost, enhanced healthcare, cleaner and safer environments, as well as a sustainable society, are only a peek of pursuits, which might have sparked the growth of these technologies. Nevertheless, just are their contemporary or preceding counterparts, such as the genetic engineering and telephone cables, among other, their success are, to a large level, reliant on the entire long or short term impact they portend for our societies and businesses. For instance, fiber optics is amongst the leading of numerous emerging technologies brought into the new century whose effect on business and society has not been fully realized let alone being determined (Udd & Spillman, 2011). Realizing its impact is not easy job. The number of applications for this technology, whether theoretical or practical, is rather enormous and different, making it much harder to determine the full extent of their significance. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that this technology has had its fair share of positive and negative effects on society and business and will carry on all through its evolution. This paper will examine the view that suggests that the technology fiber optics is a good emerging technology, and then discuss the implications for stakeholders. It will also contrast and compare the benefits of fiber optics to past successful or unsuccessful telecommunications technologies that relate to it. Part A Fiber optics is a type of optics that deals with the transmission of light through thin rods of glass or fibers. If light is shown at one end of a fiber, it can travel through the fiber with overly low loss of intensity, regardless of the fiber is curved (Barnoski, 2012). The easiest application of optical fibers is the transmitting of light through places that are hard to reach, for instance, inside a dentist’s drill. Also, bunches of thousands of very thin joint fibers, can be utilizes in viewing images. Every point of the image produced on one side of the bundle is produced at the other side of the bundle, reforming the image, which can be viewed through a magnifying glass. This form of transmission by optical fibers is widely applied in medical instruments for viewing inside someone’s body and also for laser surgery, in computer graphics, in copying machines, as well as in many other machines. Local area networks (LANs) are another rising use for fiber optics. Fiber optics connects a lot of local people to expensive equipment like printers and computers. This system extends the use of equipment plus can assist new users on to a new or existing network. Fiber optics is an important technology utilized in many diverse fields of communications. With nearly every business activity being conducted online, fiber optics can readily offer the capacity of data, which is transmitted with its gigabit speeds and as more innovations in technology continue to happen, it will diffuse into every field of the industry. Fax Machines, telephones, radios, television broadcasting, and even satellites make use of this overly dependable light wave technology (Barnoski, 2012). The telecommunications industry gets the most advantage from this technology. It facilitates the transmission of video, audio, and data information in overly high quality. With regards to its stakeholders, fiber technology is utilized by nearly all telecommunication organizations to help them transmit telephone, cable television and even internet communication signals. Because of the lower attenuation plus interference, this technology has positive implications to stakeholders, which is also expensive. For telecommunication and technology companies, infrastructure developments within cities are relatively tough and time-consuming, and erecting systems that transmit fiber optics are complex and expensive to set up and operate (Kabir, Ali, Pradhan et al., 2014). However, even though this is a challenge, it has made is cost effective to set up fiber optic communication systems over long distance applications, which most telecommunication companies operate under. Now, telecommunication and technology companies can transmit to their full capacity at a lower cost. Since turn of the millennium, the prices for fiber optic communications have greatly decreased. For businesses, the price of rolling out fiber to their premises has recently become less expensive compared to rolling out copper-based wires. After commercializing optical-amplification systems, in 1990, telecommunication firms have laid a huge network of both transoceanic and intercity fiber communication lines (Kabir et al., 2014). By the year 2002, a regional network of over 250,000 km of submarine communication cable had being laid, carrying a capacity o 2.56 Tb/s, and even though only a few network capacities are privileged information, investments that has been done on this field since 2004 prove that network capacity has gone up dramatically since then. Therefore, what does this mean for these stakeholders, for instance, telecommunication firms, technology companies and their employees, management, technical staff, nontechnical staff, the companys customers and clients plus other business partners? These parties, first of all, have to be willing to accept and adapt to this change (Kabir et al., 2014). For instance, some telecommunication companies still providing copper-based communication networks should try and switch to fiber optics because the speed offered by fiber optics cannot be compared to copper-based networks. This implies looking for more capital to set up this technology. However, as more and more people seek to use fiber optics for communication, this means more business opportunities for telecommunication firms that choose to use fiber optics as their communication medium (Wong, 2012). This means that telecommunication companies that will roll out fiber optics to their clients at an early stage will establish themselves faster than firms, which take time to adapt to this change, and enable them to have a competitive edge. This is because clients will already have settled from those telecommunication companies before others start establishing themselves. For technological companies, fast connections are a sure benefit to them. From fast relying of information within the organization and also outside, web storage and conducting their businesses online, all these are benefits of using fiber optics. We can pick, for example, a university based network and its users (the university management, students and members of other universities among other users). In such an institution, having fast connections within its network means that things will run efficiently, from searching for materials from the library of the university online to ensuring that students can exchange information within themselves in a timely manner; from ensuring that information sent from one university department to another department reaches in a timely manner to ensuring that other universities can also access your website in order to facilitate the exchange of academic information. This is does not take place in university alone. Since today, almost every organization requires to be connected to a network in order to facilitate their business and communication (Wong, 2012). This is because fiber optics speeds up both internal and external communication and makes internet browsing more efficient to its users. This helps when it comes to conducts businesses such as online conferences, uploading and download materials from your cloud computing services and also communicating with your clients online (Kabir et al., 2014). Also, fiber makes it easier and much faster to send large documents online and also supports quick backing of data. Fiber optics also endorses running of multiple applications at the same time, thus saving organizations a lot of time to conduct other businesses. It also improves internal communication (communication among different departments of the organization) with more effective video-conferencing, as well as internal networks (Zikmund, Babin & Carr et al., 2012). With today’s world seeking to move into a 24-hour economy, we need infrastructure that will allow us to operate on a 24-hour economy. This means that our networks also have to operate on a 24-hour basis. Fiber optics ensures flexible working even at busy periods when most networks have high traffic of data (Barnoski, 2012). Also, today, some organizations endorse their workers working from a remote location, but still require communicating to them efficiently in a timely manner. This has been made possible by the spread of fiber optics now people can work at their own convenience and still be able to communicate with their seniors remotely when needed (Zikmund et al., 2012). For tech companies that fail to adapt to this trend, they risk being left behind of the fast information-moving world. Information offers an organization knowledge that will help them run the business skillfully (Zikmund et al., 2012). Today, efficiency is based on has fast your decision making process is in order to realize the highest profits that your business offers. Fast moving information ensures faster decision making, which leads to higher profits. Even though, it means that they might have to use extra costs in order to train their personnel on how to use this new technology, profits have organizations that have adopted this new technology show it is worth the effort (Barnoski, 2012). Part B After looking at the implications to telecommunication companies, it is also important to compare the technology to older technology of its kind regarding its advantages and disadvantages. Fiber optic is basically the fastest-growing transmission medium for both old and new cabling installations, including horizontal, backbone, as well as even desktop applications. The main technology that can be compared to fiber optics is copper transmission (Udd & Spillman, 2011). End-user firms planning cabling upgrades still go through hard decisions concerning which type of cabling is the best value for their needs (current and projected future). Copper-based networks offer the same step-ladder upgrade method, which they have for years, whereas fiber-optic supporters continue to promote the "once-and-youre-done" idea. In fact, the fight could be as dynamic and reviving as ever, if only it was still being waged. This is because fiber optic options perhaps are more abundant today than they ever have been, and that is a good thing for the fiber camp (Barnoski, 2012). The main advantages that fiber brags about over copper-based networks are greater bandwidth, low attenuation and greater distance, security, design, immunity and reliability, migration, cost and standards among other aspects (Wong, 2012). Fiber offers far much greater bandwidth compared to copper plus has standardized performance of up to 400 Gbps. Even though, it is not a standard, at the moment, these speeds could turn into a reality in future proposals and approvals. Bear in mind that fiber optic speeds are reliant on the cable type being used. Single-mode cable grants far much greater distance compared to either 50- or 62.5-micron multimode cable. Furthermore, fiber optic cable can transmit much more information with overly greater fidelity compared to copper wire (Udd & Spillman, 2011). That is why CATV and telephone companies are switching to fiber optics. Since the fiber optic signal composes mainly light, merely little signal loss takes place during transmission, plus data can travel at greater distances on higher speeds. Unlike copper, fiber does not have the 9328-ft. (100m) distance restriction of unshielded twisted pair copper. Fiber distances can vary from 984.2 ft. (300m) to 24.8 mi. (40 kilometers), relying on the wavelength, type of cable, as well as network. Since fiber signals require less boosting compared to coppers, the cable performs much better (Barnoski, 2012). Another benefit is that when it comes to fiber cables, your data is always safe. Fiber does not emit signals and is very difficult to tap. In addition, if the cable is tapped, it becomes very easy to see since it leaks light, cause the failure of the entire system (Wong, 2012). If a simple attempt is made to breach the physical security of the fiber system, then you will be aware of it. Fiber networks also allow you to put all your hardware and electronics in one central site, rather than having wiring closets with gear all over the building. Another advantage is that fiber offers exceptionally reliable data transmission. It is fully immune to many ecological factors, which negatively impact copper cables. Its core is made of glass, an electric insulator, thus no electric current can go past it. It is also resistant to crosstalk, electrometric interference and radio-frequency interference (EM/RFI), impedance problems and money other factors that can affect copper cables (Wong, 2012). Just in case you run an industry that deals with heavy machinery, you can run fiber next to the equipment without worry. Fiber optic cables are also less prone to temperature fluctuations compared to copper wires plus they can be submerged in water. Another advantage when you compare fiber cables to copper wires is that fiber cables are thin, lightweight, plus more durable than copper cable (Barnoski, 2012). Fiber cables have pulling specifications, which are 10 times greater compared to copper cables. Their small size makes it much simpler to handle, plus it uses much less space in wiring ducts. Even though, fiber is still harder to terminate compared to copper, developments in connectors are making the termination now to be easier. Furthermore, fiber is, in reality, easier to test compared to copper cables. Another other advantage is that the lower costs and proliferation of media converters are making migration to fiber from copper much easier (Kabir et al., 2014). The converters offer seamless links and allow the use of already existing hardware. Thus, fiber can be integrated into planned upgrades of network. The final advantage is that the cost for fiber components and its hardware is progressively reducing. Installation charges for fiber are greater than copper due to the skill required for terminations. In general, fiber is more costly compared to copper only in the short run, but it might, in reality be less costly in the long run (Udd & Spillman, 2011). Fiber normally costs less to sustain, needs less networking hardware and has less downtime. It also eliminates the requirement to recable for greater network performance (Udd & Spillman, 2011). Some of the disadvantages include high cost, repeating transmissions are distance intervals, fragile and safe protection. In general, acquiring and installing fiber cables are much more expensive compared to copper installation (Wong, 2012). This is because of the man power and expertise needed. It requires less training to be taught how to set up a copper network compared to how to set up a fiber network. Also, over long distances, fiber cables require repeating are their intervals. Furthermore, fibers can have transmission loses or be broken when wrapped around corners of just a few centimeters radius because they are made up of glass material. Nevertheless, through covering fibers in a plastic case, it is hard to turn the cable into a small enough radius that will cause it to break (Kabir et al., 2014). Finally, optical fibers need more safety around the cable in contrast to copper. Conclusion and Recommendations Regardless of these disadvantages, we can see that its advantages surely outdo them. Organizations that have chosen to switch to fiber connection are reaping high of the benefits that it presents to them and it is advisable that other organizations also follow this route in order to also reap high. This paper has discussed the fiber optics trend and found out that it is highly beneficial to today’s business and society. I would recommend future research on this topic as not many scholarly articles could be found regarding the topic. References Udd, E., & Spillman Jr, W. B. (Eds.). (2011). Fiber optic sensors: An introduction for engineers and scientists. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Barnoski, M. (Ed.). (2012). Fundamentals of optical fiber communications. Elsevier. Kabir, M. R., Ali, A., Pradhan, S. P., Dashti, Q., et al. (2014). Successful Implementation of Real Time Downhole Pressure Temperature Monitoring using Fiber Optic Technology in Deep HT-HP Well in North Kuwait. In IPTC 2014: International Petroleum Technology Conference. Wong, E. (2012). Next-generation broadband access networks and technologies. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 30(4), 597-608. Zikmund, W., Babin, B., Carr, J., & Griffin, M. (2012). Business research methods. London: Cengage Learning. Read More