From:	Tim Kerby <drekhead@***.NET>
Subject:	Re: Real-Life Computing ...(OT, obviously)
Date:	Wed, 27 May 1998 11:19:09 -0400

On 27 May 98, at 10:58, Paul Gettle wrote:

> >This changes with optical technology. Light travels much faster than
> >electricity.
>
> HUH? I was under the impression that electricity moved at near the
> speed of light too. I'll grant that it's a tad slower than the 'speed of
> light in a vacuum' but light traveling through fiber optics is also slower
> than 'speed of light in a vacuum'. (IIRC, electomagnetics traveling
> through any medium are impeded ever so slightly, which is why they have to
> quote the speed 'in a vacuum')

Yes, you are right. The advantages to light over
electricity are integrity, and interference, not speed.
Light is not susceptible to EMF or RFI interference, so
is a more robust transfer medium. Plus, it maintains
signal integrity over a much greater distance.

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