Briefing Abstract

Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) technology has been improving since it was first developed by DuPont in the early 1970s with the introduction of step index polymethylmethacrylate (SI-PMMA) fibers which could be used for data communications. Further developments have occurred in the fiber technology with the introduction of graded Index (PMMA), perfluorinated graded index polymer fibers (PF-GIPOF), new sources such as semiconductor lasers, VCSELs, resonant Cavity LEDs (RCLEDs), connectors, and systems such as Ethernet LANs, based on this technology. Killer applications of POF have been developed by the European auto manufacturers where now over 70 models of autos, consisting of over 70 million optical nodes are now on the road. This has allowed them to enjoy substantial economies of scale and the ability to grow the POF based auto networks without changes in the infrastructure from 25 Mbps to a Gbps. This application has made it possible for POF in other applications such as home networks, industrial controls, medical and sensors to attain low cost, high speed, ease of handling and small size and weight for short distance communications.

What attendees will learn form this webinar:

• Potential benefits of POF
  
• Comparison of POF vs. copper vs. glass optical fiber
  
• Overview of the present state of POF technologies
  
• Applications of POF for IPTV, home networks, industrial control, aerospace, etc.
  
• Market size and growth for individual sectors
  
• Potential of POF in 40 other markets
  
• POF as a disruptive technology
  
• Key players in the POF market
  
• Sources of information on POF

Who should be interested in this webinar:

• Manufacturers
  
• End users
  
• Installers
  
• Investors
  
• Systems integrators
  
  

Speaker Profile

Dr. Paul Polishuk is President and Chairman of the Board of the IGI Group of Companies, which includes IGI Consulting Inc., Information Gatekeepers Inc., IGICom and twelve overseas offices. Information Gatekeepers Inc., the original company of the Group, was founded in 1977. All companies are involved in providing information and analysis of fiber optics and telecommunications markets and technology trends worldwide. He is a well known expert on fiber optics and telecommunications technology and markets.

Since 1977, Dr. Polishuk has been involved in analyzing, studying, lecturing and promoting the fiber optics industry around the world. He continues to be involved in numerous studies involving the fiber optics, plastic optical fiber, the design of fiber optic networks SONET/SDH, video-on-demand, ATM, IPTV, fiber to the premise as well as markets for submarine fiber optic cable and and the application of fiber optics in such industries as electric utilities and defense.

A number of his recent assignments have involved mergers and acquisitions, transfer of technology, joint ventures and new fiber optic start-up ventures. Dr. Polishuk has traveled extensively and has lectured on fiber optics in China, Russia, Eastern Europe and Africa. He has advised governments on technology policy with regard to fiber optics, such as the United States, Russia, India and Bermuda. Finally, he was responsible for the design of a data network for Korea which resulted in DACOM.

Dr. Polishuk founded Horizon House International, a company formed to organize the first major telecommunications trade show in the United States. Within one year he , in February 1976, doubled the sales of the company as compared to its parent company, which had been in business for 20 years. He left Horizon House International in November 1977 to form Information Gatekeepers Inc. after successfully organizing the first International Telecommunications Exposition to be held in the US.

In August 1971, he joined the Office of Telecommunications, US Department of Commerce, as Deputy Director. He was Director of the organization's Policy Support Division, which was responsible for Telecommunications Policy Development for the White House. Dr. Polishuk became Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Telecommunications in August 1972 and served in this capacity until February 1976 when he left Federal service. From June 1968 to June 1970, Dr. Polishuk was the first Director of Planning for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and was Senior Research Scientist at the Laboratory from October 1956 to June 1968.

Dr. Paul Polishuk received a B.S. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from Ohio State in 1962 and 1964. In 1971, he received and S.M. in Management from MIT, after spending a year as a Sloan Fellow.