There has been a considerable growth in optical communications, coupled with a great improvement in optical materials and devices. This work reviews the current state-of-the-art, from unconventional imaging and adaptive optics, optical processing, diffractive optics, ultrafast nonlinear optical interactions, novel materials and microfabrication methods, to advanced devices and systems for information storage, processing and communications. It should be a useful resource for the researcher, engineer and advanced student interested in development and innovation.