Fiber optics are used for house hold things like your cable TV or in your internet cables for your computer.  Fiber optic cables are made of either plastic or glass.  Fibers come in two pairs. One is for outgoing and one for incoming signals. They are then encased inside a cable. Fiber optic cables are usually used to transport things over a long distance.

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http://www.bambooweb.com/articles/f/i/Fiber_Optic_Cable.html

How fiber optics work | Advantages  | Disadvantages