Technologies of light

This book draws upon a research project funded partially by the FAST Programme (Forecasting and Assessment in Science and Technology) of the Commission of the European Communities. FAST comprises, amongst other, the subprogramme TWE (Technology, Work and Employment), which is concerned with technological change and its implications for qualifications and employment. "Technologies of light" or "photonics" can be defined as any methods, processes or products which make use of the spectrum of light, and any systems whose function is to study, measure, transform or transmit by means of light, which comprise at present the following main topics, also dealt with in the book: lasers, fibre optics and their accessories, systems for the capture, processing, classification and exploitation of image data. The book is particularly directed towards: students looking for career prospects, managers wanting to keep pace with technological progress, government officers preparing science policy proposals and people interested in anticipating technological change.