Invented by Alexander Graham Bell, before the telephone

He considered this superior to the telephone

40 years ago, FSOs were developed for companies and military defense

Development of lasers

Uses light emitting diode (LED) or laser light for data transmission through air

Each unit contains:

› High-sensitivity receiver

› Optical fiber

› Lens or telescope

Distance Range: 500-2000 meters Speed Range: 100 Mbps – 1.25 Gbps Receives and transmits up to four different

light beams of data Auto-tracking feature Cost: $12,900 - $14,900 for two FlightStrata

units

Free Space Optics must compete with environment

Fog, physical obstructions, and sun scintillation can all interfere with FSOs.

Even birds can cause a line of communication to be dropped

FSOs are reliable

Work well in campus environment and speed up wireless communications

Back up to already installed wireless communications

Line of sight connectionencourages easy andinexpensive set up

Free Space Optics (FSO) can be used throughout our campus quickly and securely

Hard to intercept

Encrypted connection

Unlimited transmitters and receivers

“Last Mile” Problem› Reduce cost› Connect to Local Area

Network› Secure network› Closes the gap and provides new

customers with access

Kogod and SIS renovations

› Recreate our connectivity

› Safe connection with minimal planning and deployment time

› Security of a cable connection

Increase speed of connectivity

More secure and less expensive

Portable

Reduce the cost of the “last mile” problem

Can be used:

› When adding new buildings our campus network› For relocating offices to nearby buildings› As an alternative to repairing damaged wires› To speed up current connections and maintain

security

Questions?

Acampora, Anthony. "Last Mile by Laser." Scientific American 17 June 2002. 2 Apr. 2008 <http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=0008069E-808A-1D06-8E49809EC588EEDF&print=true>.

“A New Old Idea.” Economist Sept. 2007: 3-4. Academic Search

Premier. EBSCO. American University Lib. 2 April 2008

<http://web.ebscohost.com.proxyau.wrlc.org/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=101&sid=005bc431-c588-4cf2-b2c8-9a332c9473fc%40sessionmgr109>

“Consulting Services.” Onsite Network Consulting: Delta Technical Services. Apr 28 2008.

“FSO Free Space Optics.” Sona Optical Wireless. 2 April 2008 <http://free-space-

optics.org/>

Harvard Broadband Communications Labratory. "HBBCL Free-Space Optical Communications ." Free Space Optical Communications. 1 Apr. 2008 <http://www.seas.harvard.edu/hbbcl/fsoc.html>. LightPointe Communications. "Free Space Optics: Technology." LightPointe. 2005. 1 Apr. 2008 <http://www.freespaceoptics.org/freespaceoptics/default.cfm#howitworks>.

“ikonz: Information Services.” Apr 28 2008. http://www.ikonz.com/“Laser Military Experiment.” Apr. 28 2008.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Military_laser_experiment.jpg

LightPointe. 2007. 2 April 2008 <http://www.lightpointe.com/solutions/cs_barryu.cfm>

“Multi-rate laser pulses could boost outdoor optical wireless performance.” Penn State Live. Oct 27, 2004. Apr 3 2008. http://live.psu.edu/story/8738

"optics: industry report. " Laser Focus World  1 May 2007: 57. Sciences Module. ProQuest.  American University Library, Washington, DC.  2 Apr.

2008 <http://www.proquest.com/>“Meltdown.” Second Skin. Apr 28 2008.

http://www.secondskinfilm.com/blog/?p=148.“Telephone. Alexander Graham Bell.” Design Technology Department. Apr.

28. 2008. http://www.design-technology.org/telephone.htm“Wireless Service Provider.” Sona Optical Wireless. 2 April 2008.

http://www.fsona.com/solutions.php?sec=mobile