What Could You Do With 120 Laser Pointers? 266
lazed-dazed asks: "I've recently come into possession of a large number (120 of 'em) of keychain laser pointers (minus the fancy diffraction adapters, though the specs are the same). So, Slashdot, I ask you: Can you give me any project ideas for these low-wattage bad boys? Holograms? Fancy cigarette lighters? Laser cannons? The crazier, the better! Oh, and don't bother suggesting cat toys."
just put them on a string.. (Score:5, Funny)
that + some wind should look eery enough when it's foggy.
oh yeah attach some death trap it to keep it from being stolen.
Re:just put them on a string.. (Score:5, Funny)
paint the moon (Score:2)
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalsc
Method for Aerobicly Exercizing Cats Dogs & Hu (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Method for Aerobicly Exercizing Cats Dogs & (Score:5, Funny)
--Dr. Evil
experiments (Score:2, Insightful)
If you live in Seattle, w/ your head in the clouds (Score:3, Funny)
Re:experiments (Score:5, Interesting)
And, even more importantly, it's not going to be very focused. If you look at the spot a laser pointer makes it's more of a blob, the optics on these things are NOT meant to be very accurate. Plus, with 120 of them, there's almost zero chance that they'd all be aimed at exactly the same spot. In order for cutting lasers to be useful they have to be highly focused and concentrated in a very small spot, much like the whole magnifying-glass-starts-fires trick thing.
I think you'd have a better chance of getting something to light by rubbing sticks together.
Re:experiments (Score:2)
Build (120) 3D Scanners (Score:2)
Disclaimer: my site.
Re:Build (120) 3D Scanners (Score:2)
Re:experiments (Score:3, Informative)
obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
What would I do? (Score:3, Funny)
first you need sharks (Score:5, Funny)
Re:first you need sharks (Score:5, Funny)
-
Re:first you need sharks (Score:2)
Re:Make sure they're not sea bass though (Score:2)
They've patented WHAT? (Score:3, Funny)
Where will the madness stop??????
Daniel
It doesn't stop here (Score:2)
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2, Insightful)
Think I might go and patent the above, but using plain old visible light instead
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2)
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2)
Did he mention that it was 90 pounds?
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2)
Unfortunately it's dead now - probably d
Re:They've patented WHAT? (Score:2)
Aside from which, $DIETY has prior art, re. the Sun and a Tree.
Rinse, repeat, watch the animal pant in exhaustion. Loads of fun.
Point them to a single location... (Score:5, Funny)
For a better effect, let each pointer move veeeery slightly. And if you want, you can add a nice gunshot.
Re:Point them to a single location... (Score:5, Funny)
Oh well. One person's funny, is another person's terrorist threats. But back then you wouldn't even get written up for crap like that. Of course, that might have been because I gave them someone else's name and room number.
Re:Point them to a single location... (Score:2, Funny)
It is a little more subtle
Good way to get killed... (Score:2)
Do it around a cop, they will haul you off to prison, if you survive the surgery.
Re:Good way to get killed... (Score:4, Funny)
When the power is back on, maybe I'll be sipping swiss miss in front of the TV just in time to see the breaking news story about how the SWAT team took down a crazy bastard shooting blindly into the air trying to defend himself against imaginary snipers.
Like everyone else on the internet you talk tough. But, hey, 'talk': It really is cheap. So knock yourself out.
Re:Point them to a single location... (Score:5, Interesting)
Simple (Score:2)
That's easy (Score:2)
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscie
you only need about 24880 more
Re:That's easy (Score:5, Funny)
Astronaut: Houston control, we have a problem. The Russians have painted the moon read.
Houston: Apollo command, do you have any white paint? Repeat, do you have white paint on board?
Astronaut: Affirmative, Houston control
Houston: Apollo command, put a Coca Cola logo on it.
(runs for cover)
Re:That's easy (Score:2)
No, with diffusion you'd need a LOT more than that. If memory serves, you'd need millions, and even then you'd likely not see results.
Be artistic... (Score:3, Interesting)
Do "Tux the Penguin" or Bill Gates next if you have lazer pointers left over. If you can't get those chemistry set poles then maybe a bunch of lumber and silly putty would work... Forget the lumber... just use mountains of Silly Putty!
Re:Be artistic... (Score:2)
You mean, a 'stand'?
Do "Tux the Penguin" or Bill Gates next if you have lazer pointers left over.
You'd be insane not to include the BSD demon on there.
Re:Be artistic... (Score:2)
No, that would start a flame war.
Re:Be artistic... (Score:2)
Re:Be artistic... (Score:2)
Ooh! You warmonger you! I vote for Larry Wall!
Multiplanar autostereoscopic imaging system (Score:2, Interesting)
Note:
Build a 2D imager! (Score:2)
Mount one pointed at two rotating mirrors, so that the beam scans left-right creating a line, and each such line is scanned up-down. Ie, the left-right mirror needs to rotate something like 500 times faster than the up-down mirror, and that needs to scan at 24 sps. (if you have a 6 sided mirror, that is 4fps -> 240rpm. That means the small mirror would need to spin at 120000rpm! A bigger mirror with more sides is probabl
Just look at Hollywood...(or: are you paranoid?) (Score:5, Funny)
light, a ton of wires, a loud electronic horn,
and a computer to connect them to.
Then you can build your very own 'I-have-
something-very-expensive-to-protect'-ro
tux or your favorite CBN-Shrine in the middle and
place sensors and lasers at the walls crossing
the room in a wild way.
Congratulations, the room is now safe from
intruders. (at least you will hear them if they
come.)
cy
PS: Hey... you could practice to come thru there
without hitting the beams like in these movies,
where they try to steal a huge diamond, some
prototype chips or a very tasty peanut butter
sandwich. Choose what you prefer to reach...
Re:Just look at Hollywood...(or: are you paranoid? (Score:2, Interesting)
You can make the beams visible with some kind of fog, or keep them invisible (they just have to look at the pointers and the sensors), then it would be funny too see those people step over invisible fences and so on
HOWTO: Detecting Laser Beams with a Linux Box (Score:4, Informative)
A simple C program that reads and writes the memory address of the parallel port can detect, log, and act on these "laser trip" events, doing something as simple as beeping, or as complex as taking a picture and asking for a code. The program should write a 1 to the bit that controls the output pin you are using so that +5 volts appears on it. It should then repeatedly read the input pin you are using. When the input pin transitions from 1 to 0, even for a moment, you know the laser beam has been cut.
The quick and dirty C code to do parallel port operations under linux can be found at here. [experts-exchange.com] For beginners I suggest you use one of control bits/pins as your output and one of the status bits/pins as your input. The data bits/pins are bi-directional and must be configured for input or output, and using them makes things slightly more complicated. If you want to get really fancy try using the parallel port IRQ to detect the transition from 1 to 0, this should save processing power by avoiding an expensive loop to check the state of the input pin constantly.
If you need a little more background on the parallel port before diving in, check out this resource [lvr.com]
Finally, the above description is for a single laser beam. I used a mirror to bounce a single beam around, to get greater coverage, and to provide the effect of multiple beams in the presence of aerosol or powder. You should be able to support thirteen independent laser beams on a single parallel port, using the data bits/pins and the status bits/pins combined.
Make a rolling notice board (Score:4, Interesting)
You will then be able to project messages on the people, walls, cars. Insert funny messages here...
3D projector (Score:4, Interesting)
Place all 120 of them on an arm, but spin it around its own length (think driveshaft) in the middle of a room. If you were able to control them individually (even though they were spinning) you could have whatever graphics you wanted on the walls.
UFO (Score:5, Funny)
sell them (Score:5, Funny)
Re:sell them (Score:2)
[No relation to Tubgirl.]
Protest demonstration? (Score:2, Interesting)
Having every protester bring a laser pointer and point it at the source of their ire as they go past could make the point quite well. Particularly if they're just watching silently with banners saying something like "We're watching you" or similar.
You'd have to make sure that you wouldn't injure the target with that many beams in the same place, of course - would getting 20 of those in the eye at once be harmful?
And it might not be a good id
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2)
Levenworth is not in England, by the way.
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2)
No one mentioned England, that's just where Bush happens to be today.
and finally,
It's a joke, l
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2, Informative)
"Person commits a class C misdemeanor if they knowingly direct a laser pointer at a police officer, uniformed security guard, fire fighter, emergency medical service worker, or other uniformed municipal, state or federal officers. "
Apparently for fear that a police officer would confuse a laser pointer with a laser sight from a gun.
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:3, Insightful)
Yeah, great idea [bbc.co.uk], get yourself shot.
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2, Funny)
I guess the difference is how low they aim?
Re:Protest demonstration? (Score:2)
Getting one in your eye at once is harmful. Focussed laser light can burn your retina, even low power light such as that.
however, if you see them at different locations, that means the laser light is focused on different area of the retina. So 20 isn't necessarily an order of magnitude more harmful, it's just 20 times the risk...
Take out security cameras. (Score:5, Interesting)
Laser pointers nicely mess up video camera... It probably won't hurt the camera, but here is a fun read [naimark.net] if you have a bit of time on your hands.
Re:Take out security cameras. (Score:2)
Re:Take out security cameras. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Take out security cameras. (Score:5, Funny)
Teller: "This red glowing guy comes in - I think he was some sort of high-tech chia pet or something - and as he's handing me a note, he yells 'My eye!' and doubles over in obvious pain. That's when I kicked him. Then he fell down and we all started kicking him. Funny thing is, the lights just kep on shining. It was like beating up a disco ball."
The Ultimate Laser Pointer (Score:5, Funny)
You will need:
322,951 crewmen
Several million tons of quadanium steel
Approx. 950,000 troopers in cool white plastic uniforms
One (1) small moon at the outer edges of the known galaxy at which to construct the thing.
...
Here are some technical specs [galacticem...tabank.com], and a handy diagram [tiscali.it].
Basically, you do the following:
(1) Use all the steel to build this gigantic metal ball, with a dimple on one side. You use a huge rubber band (available at your friendly neighborhood hardware store) to hold the laser pointers together, and put them in the dimple (make sure the batteries are always charged.) Get all your 1.5-odd million crew guys and troops on board, and fire the bitch up.
(2)
(3)profit!
Warning: Warranty void in case of attack by swarms of rebel fighters and small foam balls [stanford.edu].
Re:The Ultimate Laser Pointer (Score:3, Funny)
Personally, that's a job I would pass on. Independant contractors have to choose their jobs wisely.
Easy (Score:2)
*cough*ripoff*cough*
(don't forget to mimic the quotes while telling your good for nothing son about it)
Scrolling Message (Score:3, Interesting)
Make this grid 7 rows high, and 17 columns long.
Then you have a projectable scrolling display.
(with of course the right hardware to turn the lasers on / off at the right times.)
Dear Chairface Chippendale: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Dear Chairface Chippendale: (Score:2)
I miss the Tick...
Video Game (Score:2)
Garden (Score:4, Interesting)
Output the grid reference to a web page - it should now be relatively easy for your friends to track your exact position in the garden while talking on the phone
Re:Garden (Score:2)
Re:Garden (Score:2)
What, you mean outside?
Oblig. Simpsons Ref (Score:2, Funny)
"Hey buddy, you better get that checked out. My uncle died of crotch dot." - Chief Wiggum
Build an ultra-long distance laser data link (Score:2)
Audience Participation (Score:3, Interesting)
Attache em on the spokes of your bike... (Score:4, Funny)
Go to bed.
Get up and read the newspaper(s).
LOL
to do with too many lazers (Score:5, Interesting)
Attach an AC adapter and mount a row of them above the front door, aiming down.
Give them away at a local school. The teachers would love that.
Drill holes into a thick wooden board, mounting the pointers upwards under a sheet of transparent plastic or glass. Sacrifice an audio LED controller or two to synchronize the beams to music. Learn to dance.
Attach them all to a single trigger, and mount them together with a large amount of tape. Keep in your glovebox. When someone cuts you off, aim at their rear-view mirror.
Build your own really inefficient 3D scanner.
Can you say, Flash Mob?
Attract wildlife (Score:5, Funny)
A bar (Score:5, Funny)
The next morning, call your friend and ask him how the girl was in bed.
More to the point (Score:2)
Musical instrument (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact, here's a very informative website on the subject: The 250 laser harp project [stanford.edu]. Includes links to different projects, schematics, part sources, etc.
Laser display of music? (Score:2)
Maybe set up something like a rack of lucite rods and have the lasers to point end-on into them. Have a rod light up when the corresponding note is played, either based on a MIDI file or such, or by depressing the key of a keyboard (which is similar to the laser harp).
Make a replicate of the belagio's water fountain. (Score:3, Interesting)
Posting anonymously? (Score:3, Interesting)
Sorry if this is slightly off-topic, but I'm the submitter of this article, though I did so anonymously. Is it standard Slashdot practice to change the submitter's (anonymous) name? If you'll notice, the article start "lazed-dazed asks: ..." instead of "Anonymous Coward asks: ..."
Just curious.
Maybe (Score:2)
Wall Art! (Score:2)
Give them away. (Score:2)
Tetris (Score:3, Interesting)
Play tetris on the nearest available building.
orbital brain lasers and scientologists? (Score:3, Funny)
Find 119 friends ... (Score:5, Funny)
Find 119 friends. All 120 of you shave your heads, tape a laser pointer to the side of your head, and say, in unison, "I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated."
trade them for power tools (Score:2)
Simple (Score:2)
I'm sure there's already a RFC.
Sell them... (Score:3, Insightful)
Just don't point them at aircraft (Score:3, Informative)
Laser pointers can blind pilots [faa.gov].
I would turn them all on at once and aim them at the moon and see if you can get it to explode! Just make sure you don't hit any aircraft.
Have fun!
Re-wiring 250 laser LED's? (Score:2)
Re:A mosquito killer. (Score:2)
"Bzzztt *SPLAT*!"
Ohhh, the joy!!