The next time you pull up to a stoplight you might find that it is brighter. The reason might be that the traditional stoplight has been replaced by brighter LEDs because they last longer and draw less energy. Since discussions are taking place all over the world about the effects of global warming on the environment, it is a good idea that the ceramics and optical materials are present in the stoplights.
When you are looking through your next telescope you can be sure that ceramics and optical materials are helping you to see better. Within a telescope and other similar devices you will find optical materials that either reflect or transmit light into a variety of spaces.
The materials will include glass ceramics and different compositions of glass and that will let you see better. This is why this type of material is used in many different industries including telecommunications, electronics, medical and homeland security.
Within communication devices you will find a variety of lenses. There are ball lenses, aspheric lenses and glass substrates. Ball lenses are highly polished and transparent glass balls and are usually found in devices that need a laser.
Aspheric lenses are used a lot to make lenses for people who wear glasses. They have a front surface that changes its curve from its center to the outside edge which allows the individual to have much clearer vision than in traditional lenses. It also makes a slimmer lens. Glass substrates will be found in PCs, laptops, flat panel computer monitors and LCD televisions. Basically they improve the optical performance of these products.
