Thanks to one of my friends’ addiction to board games – we call him the chairman of the board now – I’ve rediscovered how fun they can be. While the best board games often pit you against your buddies – Game of Thrones, Cosmic Encounter, King of Tokyo – there are also a handful of awesome cooperative games, such as the infuriating Pandemic. Here’s one that you can play with kids and adults alike, a logic game called Laser Maze.
Made by Thinkfun, Laser Maze is about guiding a laser beam through a series of mirrors and obstacles until they hit a specified target. The game has 60 levels – arranged from beginner to expert – depicted by cards. The cards show the initial setup of the board for that level. It also tells you which piece to play to complete the maze, but obviously it won’t tell you where to place it. If you really can’t figure out how to solve a level, check the reverse side of the level card for the solution.
Depending on your tastes, Thinkfun’s commercial may have made you think that Laser Maze is actually more dangerous or more awesome than you expected. The truth is the laser is very weak and is barely visible under normal lighting conditions. Skip to around 2:40 in the video below by Dad Does to see what the laser looks like in real life.
You can buy Laser Maze from Amazon for $29 (USD). It may seem to have a low replay value, but Amazon reviewers love the game and say that the more advanced levels are actually very tricky.
Google may be floating the internet in balloons, but NASA is firing lasers between the moon and Earth, setting a new record in communications as it hunts an alternative to traditional radio. The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) uses a pulsed laser beam to achieve 622 Mbps between a spacecraft orbiting the the moon and […]
CyArk, short for Cyber Archive, is scheduled to digitally scan 500 of the world’s oldest and most notable monuments over the next 5 years for posterity. The project uses laser scanners to capture full-size digital replicas of structures like the Tower of London, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Mount Rushmore and others as determined by […]
NEC has announced a new digital cinema projector that uses a laser light source rather than a traditional lightbulb. The projector is called the NC1100L Digital Cinema projector and it’s aimed at art houses, mobile cinemas, University theaters, and public buildings. NEC says that the laser light source is able to deliver 2K DCI-compliant cinema […]
I’ll start out with the newfangled EVO laser, which has the unique capability of being controlled programmatically. Out of the box, the EVO works similarly to other bright green laser pointers, but screw on the Smartport and you can control the intensity of the beam electronically. The EVO I tested came with only the Smartport, which connects to devices via an 3.5mm audio cable, but there’s an optional Bluetooth module ($39.95) which lets you control the laser wirelessly as well.
Once the Smartport is connected to the laser, you can plug it into your smartphone’s audio port and run the EVO iOS or Android app. In its current state, the app lets you turn the laser on and off, adjust its intensity, make it strobe or pulse, and also comes with a couple of extra fun things like a morse code and microphone activated mode (which for some reason I couldn’t get to work on my iPhone.) One other note: I was unable to get the laser to activate as a standalone device while the Smartport was attached.
Despite only needing two AA batteries, the EVO I tested has a continuously variable output which kicks in around 20mW, and has a maximum output of 100mw. This is plenty bright for optical experimentation, but it’s not quite powerful enough to burn things. The EVO review unit came with the optional lens kit, which lets you create a variety of patterns with the beam as well. The add-on lenses definitely aren’t needed for science experiments, but they’re fun and could prove useful for photography, Halloween light shows and for impromptu raves.
The EVO’s programmability is definitely its most compelling feature, and I could see the potential to gang multiple EVOs together for use in multimedia and interactive art exhibits, as well as long-exposure photography.
I think it could be neat to do something with motion or gesture inputs to control EVOs. For those who want to go beyond the EVO smartphone app, Wicked Lasers offers documentation for building your own iOS, Android or OS X applications, as well as an optional firmware programming kit which lets you delve into the internals of the laser itself.
Now, on to the Arctic Spyder III. What can I say about this laser other than the fact that it’s the most powerful handheld laser I’ve ever had the opportunity to use. The model I had in hand is the beastly 2000mW (2 Watt) version, and it’s insanely bright. Now this isn’t some little laser pointer you carry around on your keychain. Measuring in at 10 inches-long and weighing about a pound, it’s more like a lightsaber – not that that’s a bad thing. It’s powered by a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, which lets you use the laser for between 30 and 180 minutes depending on the laser’s power setting.
The Spyder III blasts out a bright blue beam that’s capable of easily dispatching dark colored objects (paper, plastic, balloons) in seconds. In the brightest model, it’s also bright enough to be seen from an astounding 34 miles away – though I didn’t really get to test that measurement.
If you opt for the 1 Watt model, the maximum beam distance at .25 lux is just under 29 miles, and the 1.4 Watt model can hit 24 miles. So with good reason, you never should point these things anywhere near airplanes. It also goes without saying that you MUST wear the included eye protection when using this laser. It’s dangerously intense.
In my unscientific tests, the Spyder III was able to completely illuminate a darkened room – in the low power mode. In full power mode, it’s brighter than I can describe in words – especially at its tip.
Its beam is completely visible without fog, doing a good job illuminating dust particles in the air all on its own. It’s also great for shooting long-exposure photos. Here’s a pic I snapped using the Arctic to light up my pinball machine.
And if you’re interested in lighting stuff on fire, this thing will definitely do the trick. Dark paper, balloons, matches, wood and even cigarettes are no trouble for the Spyder III. It’s a bit of a challenge to ignite white paper since it’s so reflective and there’s a bit of beam divergence, but with patience – and a steady hand or tripod, it will eventually burn through.
In conclusion, if you’re in the market for a serious handheld laser, Wicked Lasers has definitely got you covered. The EVO is a really compelling idea, with the ability to to program and control its beam with your smartphone or other application, while the Arctic Spyder III is just downright impressive for its sheer power and brightness. In addition, both lasers are fully legal to own, and include a safety switch which makes them much less likely to cause harm if the fall into the wrong hands.
The EVO sells for $169.95(USD) in a 75mW+ version, while the 100mW+ version goes for $199.95. Add another $39.95 for the expanded lens kit. The Arctic Spyder III starts at $299.95 for the 1W+ version, $399.95 for the 1.4W+, and $599.95 for the 2W+ model. The Artic’s expanded lens kit goes for $49.95, and for $79.95 you can grab the Phosforce attachment, which transforms the Arctic into a crazy bright 500 lumen flashlight.
I don’t know what you would do with a laser that you can control remotely using a smartphone, but I want one nonetheless. I own a few lasers from Wicked Lasers and typically I use them for stargazing with the kids to point out things I want them to see in the sky. I’ve also used them to torment more than a few kitties.
Wicked Lasers has unveiled a new laser called the Evo that is the world’s first open source smartphone controlled handheld laser. The device is designed to be fully hackable and is capable of operating wirelessly thanks to its available Bluetooth module. The $200 laser shoots a powerful 100mW green beam.
Power comes from a pair of AA batteries and it has four modes including momentary, constant, strobe, and bypass. The beam itself is continuously variable, and can light things on fire at its higher settings. Wicked Lasers guarantees that this is actually legal to own so the police won’t come beating on your door.
I have no idea what to do with this thing, and neither does Wicked Lasers yet. I am hoping some videos turn up on YouTube of people doing silly stuff with this laser.
Wicked Lasers has been offering up all sorts of laser pointers that can be used for performing all sorts of interesting stunts. Some lasers the company makes are incredibly powerful and can be used to melt, pop, and burn all sorts of stuff including iPhones. Wicked Lasers has announced what it claims to be the […]
A group of physicists from the Laser Center of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Physics of the Warsaw University have teamed up to create a new type of optical amplifier for lasers. The creation of the amplifier has allowed the team of scientists to create […]
Smartphones have pretty good cameras, but nowhere near good enough to do the kind of high accuracy measurement work that’s required for engineering or remodelling projects. Enter Spike, a new smartphone attachment designed by ikeGPS, a company that specializes in building fit-for-purpose laser hardware for use in surveying and 3D modelling.
The Spike is version of their solution that attaches to the back of a smartphone and integrates directly with software on those devices to make it possible to measure objects and structures accurately from up to 600 feet away, just by taking a picture with your device. The accessory itself ads a laser range finder, advanced GPS a 3D compass and another digital camera to your smartphone’s existing capabilities, and it’s much more portable than existing solutions (pocketable, even, according to ikeGPS).
The benefits of the Spike and its powers are evident for the existing market ikeGPS already sells to; telecom and utility companies, architects, city planners, builders and more would be better served with a simple portable accessory and the phone they already have in their pocket than by specialized equipment that’s heavy, bulky, requires instruction on proper use and lacks any kind of easy instant data portability like you’ll get from a smartphone app’s “Share” functions.
But ikeGPS is after a new market segment with the Spike, too. It says the device is “built for developers & hackers,” and they suggest augmented reality as a possible consumer application, but are interesting in seeing exactly what the dev community can come up with via its full-featured API. Laser accurate measurements could indeed bring interesting features to location-based apps, though Spike is clearly more interested in letting developers more experienced with that segment of the market figure out the details.
Spike plans to eventually build a case attachment to make it compatible with any phone and case combo, though at launch it’ll be doing this via a CAD model which owners of the device can use to get mounts 3D printed themselves. It’ll work a bit like the Sony QX10 and QX100 smartphone camera lens accessories, it sounds like, and make it possible to use with any iOS or Android device.
The goal of Spike’s founding team, which includes founder and CTO Leon Toorenburg, who built ikeGPS (neé Surveylab) to fit the needs of professionals, is to make this kind of tech widely available. It’s another example of costs associated with tech decreasing quickly, and making it ultimately possible to provide something that once required a professionally trained operator and expensive, specialized hardware usable by anyone with a phone. ikeGPS tech has been used by UN and US Army engineers in disaster recover and emergency response, and now its team wants to make those same capabilities open to app developers. Others like YC company Senic are looking to accomplish similar things, but Spike’s vision is much more sweeping at launch.
The project is just over halfway to its $100,000 funding goal, and $379 scores backers a pre-order unit, which is scheduled to ship in April next year. Building a consumer device is different from building very specialized hardware on what’s likely a made-to-order basis, but at least the team has the know-how and experience to make its tech actually work.
So your little one loves to go stargazing, and sometimes, you wish that you were able to provide him or her with as many number of trips possible when night falls and all the stars come out to play. Well, it is a good thing that technology has advanced to a point where you can purchase a substitute, although do bear in mind that at the end of the day, it will never be able to amount to the real deal. The $169.99 Laser Twilight Stars Projector might not be astronomically accurate, but it does allow your entire room, ceiling and walls resemble that of a beautiful night sky as it projects green laser stars and blue clouds.
Works best whenever you turn the lights off (but of course!), and it is really fantastic to figure out that a device like this, where it measures approximately 10” in height, is capable of projecting a combination of green laser stars and blue clouds onto your ceiling, walls, and heck, you might even make that constantly sleeping dog of yours as a “screen” of sorts, too! The clouds as well as stars will look as though they are constantly on the move and morphing from one shape to another, depicting a universe that is “alive”, and thousands of green laser stars to bowl yourself over. [ Laser Twilight Stars Projector brings the planetarium experience home copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
