More uses for lasers

[Tom Dunlap]

Today I was up in Loveland at an arbo training workshop. Eric and I had our lasers out for pointing at Charly Wagner.

After the session we showed them to some of the other folks. During the chatting Eric told us about a couple of non-arbo uses for the lasers. He has two little girls. He said that when it's bath time the laser makes some wild reflections in the bubbles and bath with the lights off. Makes bath time fun instead of a chore.

Later, if any monsters show up in the girls room they call Daddy to shoot and blast the monsters. The advantage of using the lasers instead of bullets is that the monsters get vaporized. That means there's no mess to clean up.

 

[Colin]

Well, there ya go! /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Merak]

Are the lasers hazardous to the eyes at that close range. I would be concerned about permanent damage to their eyes if they should point it at each others faces. I guess we'll find out soon enough with so many of them out there now.

 

[Merak]

Nothing to worry about I guess. Heres something I found on the Net:

A laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) pointer is a device that transforms ordinary light into an extremely intense and nearly non-divergent beam of light of a single color, with the light waves all in synch. Depending on the intensity of the light, lasers can mobilize immense heat and power when focused at a short range. They are being used for exciting new surgical techniques.

Lasers are classified according to the maximal power output. Class 1 lasers (< 0.024 mW) are considered incapable of causing damage and carry no warning label. Class 4 lasers (>500 mW) are dangerous military, medical, or industrial lasers.

Laser pointers are class 3A (1 to 5 mW) and are required to carry a warning cautioning users to avoid shining a laser pointer beam into anyone's eye. But class 3A lasers are less dangerous than most people think. The most well-supported risk estimate suggests that the retina can theoretically be damaged if someone were to stare into the beam for 10 seconds (Ophthalmology 1997; 104:1213).

This is nearly impossible to achieve. In this situation, 10 seconds is nearly an eternity. The pupil, blink, and gaze-averting reflexes stop significant exposures in less than 0.25 seconds. Even in the office of an eye surgeon, with a chin rest, a target, and a machine to aim the beam steadily, it is difficult to keep a beam on a single spot for more than a few tenths of a second. So, a laser pointer in mischievous hands carries no real risk for immediate or delayed retinal damage.

Lasers can, however, dazzle the eyes. Both pain and dazzle spot images are common results of looking at a laser beam. This has given rise to panic in many individuals. Although laser pointers have never been found to do damage, they have produced hysterical blindness--people who can't see because they are convinced they can't (The Lancet 1998; 351:1291).


Alan Greene MD FAAP

 

[seanlarkin]

One of our sales reps was beamed in the eye accidentally at a trade show and he said he couldn't see out of that eye for about 20 minutes. The lasers we sell are 4.999 nM. We warn people not to point laser towards anyone's eyes.

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Sounds like Sherrill "legal" talking. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]
One of our sales reps was beamed in the eye accidentally at a trade show and he said he couldn't see out of that eye for about 20 minutes

[/ QUOTE ]

Who took the hit? Prophett? Bushnell? I need to know.

 

[seanlarkin]

It was Mark who got shot. There doesn't appear to be any permanent damage, but still everyone needs to be careful.

 

[theXman]

When i first got lazers, i kept shining it on different objects to see the results.

I noticed after a long session of shining on objects (in the house) that would break up the light, like prism glass objects; that my eyes would start to ache.

I don't think it is in my head. I keep thinking it's safe and usually forget that my eyes will hurt if I play a long time. But then they start to hurt and remind me.

It can't be good, and I really don't think I'm fabricating the pain.

And with kids, it sounds a little scary to me.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Drives the cat nuts.

 

[davespencer]

I just read on the net that the green lasers can pop red, pink and purple balloons.

Anyone with one wanna try it out?
/forum/images/graemlins/iconcan.gif
Dave

 

[Merak]

I wonder if it would light off an acetelene ballon from a safe distance.

 

[Treespotter]

If you put a black balloon in front of the red one, the red one sucks into the black one and than vaporizes. /forum/images/graemlins/icon314.gif

Beam me up Scotty.

 

[pantheraba]

[ QUOTE ]
If you put a black balloon in front of the red one, the red one sucks into the black one and than vaporizes. /forum/images/graemlins/icon314.gif

Beam me up Scotty.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't really know what it means, but it is hilarious! /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[the_one]

hey can anybody tell me about the butterfly 2 and the new velocity and tell me what ya'll think bout them

 

[the_one]

i had a laser scope on my M16 when i was in the marines, the laser didnt did't do much damage i dont think, but if u want u can ask the guy who had it pointed at him, but he wont say much

 

[Colin]

Ha.

 

[flying_kiwiman]

my buddy Wolter came up with this one.....

 

[flying_kiwiman]

another shot, laser guided tree...

 

[Treespotter]

Oooo no, now the whole world knows that we play more than we work. /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[johnmeiszner]

[ QUOTE ]
Oooo no, now the whole world knows that we play more than we work. /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ] /forum/images/graemlins/applaudit.gif

That's o.k. Treespotter. That information will not prevent trees from falling on their houses. /forum/images/graemlins/gangster.gif