... Interferometry, fluorescence excitation, microprocessor design and fabrication, surgical tools, and DNA sequencing are but a few examples of scientific usage of lasers. They are used educationally to demonstrate and experiment with a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological principles.
Of course I'm speaking of lasers in general, here, not pointers specifically. Pointers are a fine example of lasers being used for entertainment and for simple educational demonstrations (astronomy, fluorescence excitation, etc.)
That's a great list. Thanks.
I like the visual effects and a rare picture!
Those are beautiful pictures!
For me, I've always loved the science behind light amplification. The possibilities of harnessing lasers are numerous.
What originally attracted me to lasers was their beautiful and vibrant colors, like boosted said they inspire creativity.
Lastly I'm a big tech guy, I love anything and everything technology oriented and laser's are just one facet of technology. I seek to expand my knowledge of electronics by not only using them but dissecting them and putting them back together. Plus laser's have finally given me the excuse to learn how to solder, something I've been wanting to learn for some time now.
Another great response. Thanks!
Plus lasers make the internet possible. The backbone of the world's entire telecommunications network is based on fiber optics, with lasers pumping all the light in the fiber optics. Those are IR lasers, mind you, but still semiconductor laser diodes.
Very interesting. I never thought about the technology behind communications before.
If you have to ask.. you won't understand
Haha. Classic answer. Then I have to say: But if I never ask, I definitely won't understand.
... There is a little man with diodes in his eyes, flexdrives and rkcstrs working as his heart sitting on my shoulder and telling me to be amazed by lasers. Telling me to pop ballons, cut black tape, point out stars, build projectors.
WE LOVE IT !!!
Hmmm.. a little man on your shoulder? OK then. Sounds good.
Well, really, not everything in life has to have a pragmatic and useful end....
Hobbies and collectors have existed since human civilization began - humans like to do things recreationally, and they like to collect. It's perfectly normal.
Pretty simple - it's entertaining. And really, that's enough justification for it. Anything that gives you enjoyment in life... Shooting a beam to the mountain across from me makes me laugh and smile.
Like I said, I'm not "challenging" anyone here. I never said having a laser collection was abnormal. I was just wondering what started your collection off and running, or what you use your laser(s) for. Yours are great reasons, too. Thank you.
Anyway, my collection is based on having the strongest beam possible in every color, for the heck of it. People collect all kind of things, and why? Because they just find that the thing is "cool". Then they save them in an album/box and waste their money on it for the only purpose of owning the rarest units.
That makes sense as well. So it's a driving force, too. Awesome.
... People (outside this forum who don't get it) do like to see "cool" things, and as another posted, use your camera too, and demonstrate with some awesome pretty pictures. Then, most folks begin to see.
I posted a few such shots
here.
Those are some very mesmerizing photos. And you made your own holders, too? That's awesome. Thank you for sharing that link!
Lasers are just cool. Period.
I think many of us enjoy playing with lasers because they are very much a symbol of the future. All of us have some curiosity as to what the next years will bring...
If you're asking whether or not there is a practical use at a hobby level...
Is "fun" not a practical use?
As others have pointed out, people collect and buy many different things for enjoyment (fancy rocks, shoes, art, etc.)... we just happen to spend our money and time on building and collecting lasers.
Good point about the future. And I know there are practical uses for lasers, both commercially and at the hobby level, and that people collect all kinds of stuff. I simply wanted members here to kind of summarize their interest themselves and share it.
When I saw the gold laser writing images on the clouds at a Pink Floyd show it got me hooked. I've always liked light shows. When I was younger we would take different colored LEDs and wire them to fishing poles. Then whip them around in the dark to create faux 3D laser effects. It worked great, but we broke a lot of fishing poles when they collided LOL.
LOL. Thanks for that story! That's what I've been looking for here.
@daveindelaware....
What do you do with a painting hung on a wall....
I don't personally buy paintings, but I know what you mean.
Thank you everyone for sharing your stories, photos, and participating. I was hoping this would be a fun thread for not only me, but for everyone here. Again, I'm not out to challenge any of you in what you've chosen to build/collect/buy/fix/etc. And I'm not interested in you defending or justifying any of it, especially not to me. I was just curious what got you "into" lasers in the first place, and what there is to do with them other than try to burn tape and light matches.
I, myself, have been interested in lasers ever since high school (ugh - 20 years ago), when I used a HeNe laser to make holograms for the science fair. Back then, I couldn't afford a laser (or the materials needed) to continue in the holography hobby I would have liked to get into. But now, 20 years later, I'm interested in lasers again. This time, in the related hobby of firearms and carry for self defense. Plus, I'd have to say that owning a laser is certainly more of a possibility now, hence my asking what else there is to do with them.
Thanks again to everyone who honestly answered my questions. You may not have realized it, but you've all helped me in my decision to take the plunge into this exciting and interesting hobby. Sure, there was originally a more "practical" reason I joined this forum (gain knowledge in the use of green and red lasers as they pertain to the firearms sight industry), but now that I've read the forum more, and have seen how pasionate you all are about lasers and their uses (even if just for fun), I have to say that you've all expanded and sparked my interest even further into the realm of lasers for both practical applications AND entertainment/fun/cool factors.
I now :bowdown: to all LPF members. Thank you!
