Book excerpt: This book maps out the frontiers of optical technology in two major subdisciplines: optical materials and optical devices. The optical materials and material architectures covered include nanostructured silicon, chiral sculptured thin films, magnetic photonic crystals, and switchable materials for efficient lighting and decorative optics. The optical devices addressed include silicon waveguides for integrated circuitry, high-speed electro-optic modulators, laser diodes coupled with fibre-tip lenses, and optical sensors. Reading the ten chapters, either altogether or piecemeal, the reader will receive a virtually up-to-date review of the state of the art.