Laser technology is perhaps the technology we most associate with the sci-fi genre. When you think about lasers, you think about guns that shoot them or laser swords that can cut through anything. These devices feel like crazy pieces of advanced technology, but we actually use lasers in modern life all the time. Sorry to disappoint, but we don’t use them in the same way that they are used in sci-fi movies! However, there are some great uses of laser technology that show just how diverse it can be…
Laser cutting
In many manufacturing establishments, lasers are used to help cut things as precisely as possible. The act of laser cutting uses a laser beam to slice through different materials. Usually, a laser cutter is programmed to cut whatever it is cutting, leading to a more accurate cut than you’d get from, say, a saw. It seems really high-tech, but this has been used in the manufacturing industry for many years now.
Laser printing
Laser printing is a completely different example of laser technology in use in modern society. Here, a laser beam inside the printer shines a light onto a mirror that helps to draw the image of whatever is being printed. It’s pretty complex, and the best way to learn about it is to watch the video above as there are some animations that help you see the process at work. Effectively, using laser printing over traditional printing is believed to give more accurate results that are less likely to be blurry or have running ink.
Laser hair removal
Again, laser hair removal takes laser technology and shows its diversity. Here, you have devices like the Spectrum Laser that use intense pulsed light (IPL) and apply it to the human body. This light helps to break down the hair follicles and basically burns them away. But, it’s not an abrasive procedure so it doesn’t really hurt - all you feel is some slight heat and sensitivity after. For many within the beauty industry, lasers represent the best method of hair removal. It is certainly the most permanent and long-lasting way of removing hair with minimal side effects.
Laser surgery
Finally, you will find lasers in the medical industry as well. Laser surgery is commonly associated with the eyes as it has been used for decades to improve people’s vision. In essence, a laser is used to reshape the front surface of your eye, letting you focus better than before. It can prevent the need for glasses and shows, once more, just how versatile lasers can be.
There are plenty of other uses of laser tech that we’ve not had a chance to discuss. Laser scanning is used all the time in shops and supermarkets to scan barcodes. Likewise, all the old DVDs and Blu-Rays we used to watch (before streaming took over) relied on lasers to scan the discs, process the information, and play it on the screen. Thanks to Hollywood, we’ve been conditioned to believe that laser technology is pretty scary and advanced. In reality, it’s been around for decades and has many useful applications in modern society.
