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What is a laser pointer?
Home » Handheld Electronics » Laser Pointers » What is a laser pointer?A laser pointer is a device that emits a laser that can be used for highlighting objects across a room. It is usually shaped like a pen. Because they have become so common, laser pointers are usually inexpensive. They are small and portable and can be used for many things.
With most laser pointers, you cannot see the actual beam shooting across the room in normal conditions, all you see is a small pin-point-sized dot where the beam hits a flat surface. With some high-powered red and green lasers, you can see the beam in a dimly lit room.
Much like the digital watches about 15 years ago and many other products over the years, laser pointers began as expensive new-fangled products, but have become very affordable as the technology became more common and was made by more companies.
Laser pointers are now widely available at electronic stores, novelty shops, through mail order catalogs and through numerous other sources. Some are as inexpensive as $20 and some even cost less, they usually run in the price range of other small electronic toys and are being treated as such by many parents and children.
One woman wrote the Laser Institute of America describing how other mothers she knew bought laser pointers for their elementary-aged children so they could imitate Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader and duel with them.
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