1981 Press Photo Lightguide cable used during Lake Placid Olympics in New York

New York - Lake Placid Olympics, communications - A tiny flash of light peeps out from a Bell System lightguide cable held between thumb and forefinger in front of the Lake Placid Olympic Arena. Images of figure skaters and hockey players will travel along similar light beams during the 1980 Winter Olympics. The light beams are carried on hair-thin glass fibers that New York Telephone will use to help transmit video and voice, as well as data, signals from the arena to the telephone switching office and the broadcast center. The 2 1/2-mile lightguide system was constructed as a joint project by AT&T, Bell Laboratories, Western Electric and New York Telephone. Tiny lasers - each smaller than a grain of salt - are used to pulse light signals down the length of the glass fibers. The fibers themselves are so transparent that, if sea water were as clear, you could see to the bottom of the deepest ocean.

Photo is dated 1981.

Photo measures 10 x 8 inches.