For decades, point sensing solutions like strain gauges and thermocouples have been good enough for most applications of strain and temperature measurement, however, the mindset of ‘good enough’ often blocks innovation. New, robust sensing technologies that can monitor beyond the scope of point sensors are necessary to enable the next generation of designs. Fiber optic sensing platforms that obtain spatially continuous, real time data and can sense multiple parameters simultaneously can accelerate product innovation through easier installation, collecting more comprehensive data, combining multiple sensing capabilities into a single platform, and more.