Most of us are familiar with haptics on touch-screen phones. The feedback technology uses vibrating pulses to replace the tactility of, for example, pressing a physical button. At the recent computer graphics event Siggraph Asia 2009, a team of researchers from Japan’s University of Tsukuba demonstrated what they can do with haptics by letting users “feel” a remote object.
The prototype system comprises a laser range finder, computer, and haptics generator. By placing the device on a glass casing (we are very familiar with this as many companies like to put their prototype devices in a see-no-touch environment) and using the laser to measure the distance from the panel to the actual object, the user can “feel” the latter via the pulses that are generated.
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Much to the delight of oncologists, a highly energetic ion beam in an accurately defined dose that provides a pin-sharp (and cost-effective) radiation treatment of tumors has been experimentally demonstrated.
Physicists at the Munich Centre for Advanced Photonics (MAP), led by Dr. Dietrich Habs, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University, in cooperation with scientists at the Max Born Institute in Berlin, have published their results in the latest issue of Physical Review Letters. MAP is a German Research Foundation Cluster of Excellence.
According to the group, modern techniques based on intense laser pulses may in the future replace expensive conventional particle accelerators.
Carbon beams are considered to be the most effective method of cancer therapy, as tumors are destroyed permanently with minimum trauma. Conventional x-rays or electron beams, on the other hand, cause significant damage to the surrounding healthy tissue on their pathway into the body.
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Engineers at Aston University, UK, have developed what is an ultra-long fiber laser, also claimed as the world’s longest laser, to create a faster and more concise platform to deliver telecommunication and broadband information. Because the communication systems are increasing significantly we need a new platform for improving the speed, reliability and the operational capacity for communication and this laser based system can help open new prospects for optical communication systems.
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Using laser-fusion technology, experts hope to add “clean, inexhaustible energy source” to the laser’s distinguished resume.
Lasers are used to scan UPC bar codes at checkout counters, correct poor vision, operate laser printers and DVD players, remove unsightly body hair and locate military targets. When the laser turns 50 years old next year, it may possibly add a new achievement to its already long list of achievements: the producer of limitless, carbon-free energy.
Using lasers in combination with nuclear fusion, scientists at the Department of Energy’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) hope to mimic “the process that fuels the sun, stars and hydrogen bombs,” Robert S. Boyd writes for McClatchy Newspapers. The researchers plan to combine 192 lasers in order to create the pressure and heat needed to force hydrogen atoms to fuse; the “combination loses a tiny bit of mass, which turns into a huge quantity of energy,” Boyd explains. “It’s Einstein’s formula in action.”
The benefits of such a system are huge. According to NIF, a laser-fusion energy plant would never pose a threat of meltdown, as opposed to the traditional atomic energy plant. It would emit little radioactive fallout and zero greenhouse gases. Unlike solar or wind power, it wouldn’t be dependent on weather conditions and could operate round-the-clock. And unlike gas, oil or uranium, “its fuel source, mainly hydrogen, is virtually limitless,” Boyd reports.
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Shining a laser on your ear is probably the last thing a smoker would think of to kill their cravings.
But two heavy smokers say this simple treatment has allowed them to kick the habit for good.
For both their smoking addiction had hit an all-time low – Paul Oram was smoking up to 80 cigarettes a day and his ex-wife Kim Seal suffered two heart attacks at the age of 39.
But a revolutionary therapy, which shines a laser pen on acupuncture points on the face and hands, has worked wonders for the pair.
The only snag was Mr Oram had to go all the way to Peru to find out about it.
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Optimized parallel femtosecond-laser processing of computer-generated holograms allows for high-speed, high-light-use efficient 3D patterning.
Femtosecond-laser processing is important for simultaneously generating huge amounts of nanometer-sized structures. Combining a computer-generated hologram (CGH) with a spatial light modulator (SLM) provides important fabrication functions such as arbitrary and variable beam generation, spatial and temporal beam shaping, and adaptive wavefront correction. This approach is known as holographic femtosecond-laser processing.1–16 It offers high throughput and high light-use efficiency of the laser-pulse energy.
In this type of laser processing, precise control of diffraction peaks is essential for large-scale manufacturing. Computer-optimized holograms have highly uniform diffraction peaks a priori, but that uniformity decreases because of the optical system’s inherent spatial and temporal properties. The optimization level needs to be improved to obtain the desired diffraction peaks.
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British BAE Systems has snagged a $42 million contract to supply the U.S. Army with a lightweight, handheld laser target locator system which is powered by GPS technology.
This all-weather device enables soldiers to accurately identify target locations regardless of whether it is during the day or night, and despite having fog or smoke around as well.
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SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest illumination tools and tactical products, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The company that pioneered the first commercial laser-aiming sight, the first dedicated weapon light, and the tactical flashlight officially turned 30 on October 17, 2009.
SureFire opened for business on October 17, 1979 as Laser Products Corporation. The first product sold was the LPC Model 7, Laser-Aimed Revolver. It was the first commercially available laser-aiming product integrated with a firearm. The firearm was a Colt Trooper .357 Magnum with a helium-neon gas laser sight fixed to the gun’s original sight posts. The laser was powered by a custom built rechargeable battery integrated with a modified Pachmayr grip. This gun/laser package was sold to SWAT and Special Forces, and for anti-terrorist applications.
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Some massage therapists’ legal scope of practice allows the use of lasers – and utilizing this tool in session could help reduce massage clients’ pain.
New research shows low-level laser therapy (LLLT) reduces pain after treatment for non-specific neck pain.
Chronic neck pain is a highly prevalent condition, affecting 10 to 24 percent of the population, according to a press release from the University of Sydney, Australia, where the study’s researchers are.
LLLT uses noninvasive, painless laser irradiation to aid tissue repair, relieve pain and stimulate acupuncture points. Incidence of adverse effects is low and similar to that of placebo, with no reports of serious events, the release noted.
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BEAMING mum Wendy Noble proudly cradles her tiny twin sons – after they were saved by laser surgery in the WOMB.
Wendy, 33, was just 18 weeks pregnant when doctors revealed unborn Owen and Aiden could die without the risky op.
They had rare twin-to-twin syndrome which meant Owen – the stronger of the two babies – was starving his brother of vital nutrients, while he got too much.
But the tots pulled through – following yet more major surgery just days after they were born ten weeks premature.
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