Welcome to the Glass Age

14 the critical component in their development, the view here is that the greatest contribution of glass to life as we know it today is its role in advancing communication in ways unimaginable a century ago. Has not the world been transformed by the optical glass fiber networks that span the globe? Or by ultra-thin glass plates for television sets and protective covers for mobile phones? Then there is the remarkable story of a small company in Rochester, New York, that realized the potential of a light sensitive metallic glass for making possible high-speed reproduction of documents. This company was eventually renamed Xerox Corporation. Similar stories can be found in the emerging field of glass and healthcare. Notwithstanding this remarkable rain, sleet and snow? How can we not marvel at the beauty and reverence of stained-glass artistry found in cathedrals across the world? Or the simple light bulb providing light for all we do when darkness falls? Or our increased ability to see by placing small pieces of curved glass before our eyes? While many other revolutionary innovations can be cited where glass was Figure 1.1. Because glass is transparent it is often used for viewing other objects without being seen itself, for example when using microscopes, telescopes, optical fibers and binoculars. Source: Pixabay.