# An Unsung Hero: Optical Standards with Eric Herman - Ep 9 - Rays and Waves

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rays-and-waves-7177942/an-unsung-hero-optical-standards-with-eric-herman-ep-9-rays-and-waves
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/rays-and-waves-7177942/an-unsung-hero-optical-standards-with-eric-herman-ep-9-rays-and-waves.md
Podcast: [Rays and Waves](https://stenobird.com/podcast/rays-and-waves-7177942)
Published: 2025-11-04T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raysandwaves/episodes/An-Unsung-Hero-Optical-Standards-with-Eric-Herman---Ep-9---Rays-and-Waves-e3abgg7
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/fc7e32e8/podcast/play/110526407/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-10-1%2Ff938bf50-3ef1-233f-2c39-f465de3bccb5.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/rays-and-waves-7177942/episodes/an-unsung-hero-optical-standards-with-eric-herman-ep-9-rays-and-waves
Duration seconds: 2915

## Resource

Standards may not grab headlines, but they quietly shape the world. In this episode of Rays and Waves, we shine a light on the unsung hero of modern optical engineering: optical standards. From the fiber optics enabling global connectivity, via laser grocery scanners, to the precision lenses the James Webb telescope, none of it works without agreed-upon rules and measurements. These standards ensure interoperability, safety, and reliability across millions of devices. Joining Daniel and Steve is Eric Herman, a dedicated volunteer helping to develop and maintain these critical frameworks. Together, we’ll explore how standards are created, the challenges of keeping pace with cutting-edge technology, and why this work matters more than ever. If you enjoy the show, share it with your colleagues, subscribe, and leave us a review! Got thoughts or questions? Reach out at rays.and.waves.podcast@gmail.com Intro music is Good Vibe by Twisterium. Thanks for the great tunes!

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/rays-and-waves-7177942/episodes/an-unsung-hero-optical-standards-with-eric-herman-ep-9-rays-and-waves/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/rays-and-waves-7177942/an-unsung-hero-optical-standards-with-eric-herman-ep-9-rays-and-waves.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.