ABSTRACT
The fiber sensing bristled with almost unbridled optimism since fiber-optic communications offered to totally revolutionize communication networks—which they did—then the same should be true for sensor technologies. The demonstrations of fiber-optic sensing and measurement simply duplicated measurements available already using other techniques and often at a cost that far exceeded those achievable using current technologies. It took some time before new measuring modalities became apparent, most notably distributing sensing. The lab in a fiber is beginning to emerge as a tangible, workable, and achievable concept—a means through which innovative biochemical measurements may be realized and exploited. The benefits of fiber sensing have been well rehearsed, but these benefits are only an advantage when they present a gain to the potential user compared to what is available. This in turn depends upon market sector and the current and projected needs within that market sector.
