Make: Volume 87

JOE GRAND (Kingpin) is a computer

engineer, hardware hacker, teacher,

daddy, honorary doctor, and occasional

YouTuber. He was a technical advisor

during the founding of Make:, and this is

his tenth article for the magazine.

Fiber-optic communications, which transmit

data over modulated light through a physical

medium of thin fiber rods made of glass or

plastic, was developed in the 1950s and 60s.

In the 1970s it was first used commercially

for military and telephone applications. The

technology is still used today, most recognizably

as high-speed internet service to the home.

Ever play laser tag? It was originally used for

military training ...