First stop: The garage. You see your vehicle parked over there? Well, chances are that every time you hit the brakes, you are depending on ceramics to help you. Many cars today have ceramic brake pads installed - they help you to stop more reliably in all sorts of braking situations - and that helps keep you safe.

Want some other examples? Well, let's go back into the house. Go to your kitchen or bathroom, and what do you see - perhaps some beautiful (sometimes hand-painted) ceramic tile in your shower area, or on a kitchen countertop or hallway floor. It is both beautiful and functional, and it can increase the value of your home.

Hey, I'm hungry - so let's go back into the kitchen. What to we see there? Well, perhaps a ceramic coffee carafe, or ceramic teapot, or ceramic tea strainer, right next to the ceramic cups and dishes.

Let's travel outdoors. When we do, what do we find around many homes? Why, ceramic garden stools and benches, ceramic garden pixies and gnomes, playfully lounging in the midst of our outdoor finery.

While we are outside, if we swing around to the front door, we may notice come ceramic house numbers proudly displaying even the street and family name for all the neighbors. They give the house a unique, individual identity. And, what do we see next to the doghouse outside but a ceramic dog bowl, with water and food for the family pooch.

Well, we're finished around the house. Now, let's head off to work. All types of businesses and industries have used ceramics. Piezo electric elements are incorporated in computers, medical equipment, furnaces, watches - even your backyard grill. And ceramic ball bearings help devices as diverse as truck wheels, jet airplanes and roller skates function better.

Well, our tour is complete. As you see, ceramics do TRULY fill our world. And our world would be poorer without them.