Favorite laser-pointer color? (hurray for diodes)

In summary, there are many different colors of laser pointers available, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. Red is no longer considered cool, but the 635nm red-orange is more visible than longer-wavelength reds. Green is extremely visible and can help keep people's focus, but it can also be bothersome to look at for extended periods of time. Yellow and blue are overpriced and overrated. Gamma-ray DeathStar (tm) may be an interesting option, but it has drawbacks such as difficulty focusing and being hard for humanoids to see. Ultimately, the old-fashioned stick with a rubber tip and loop for hanging seems to be a favorite among some individuals.

Most effective pointer color? You choose.

  • 650nm (red)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 632nm (orange-red)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 593nm (yellow) (yeah, right)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 473nm (blue) (costs more than a laptop...)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    3
  • #1
rachmaninoff
I'm giving a small talk soon, so I've decided I should probably have a pointer to keep things on track. However, there are too many colors available, it's overwhelming; I don't like making decisions. My thoughts:

Red just isn't that cool anymore. The dot is small and not very visible by comparison (to green). I've heard that the 635nm red-orange is more visible than the longer-wavelength reds (but I haven't seen one myself) - and still cheaper than green.

Also, they now also have wireless remotes with lasers built in - only available in red I'm afraid. You can change slides and control the laser with the same hand - efficient!

Green is extremely visible and keeps peoples' focus right where it needs to be. Also makes me look cool.

Red-Green This http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/657a/" from Thinkgeek is an accident waiting to happen - it has two lasers, one on each end of the pointer (like a double light-saber). Oops wrong button! There goes an eye.

Yellow and Blue are overpriced and overrated. Just look at this chart http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminosity_function to see why.

Gamma-ray DeathStar (tm) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=death+star&btnG=Google+Search" seems like a nice complement to any powerpoint presentation. Drawbacks - gamma rays are hard to focus, the dot might be too big to be useful (anyone have experience with this?); also, I've been told humanoids don't see gamma rays that well - is this true?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Really, I like the old stick with the pointed rubber tip and the loop on the other end for hanging it up when not in use. The nuns used to use these when I was in grade school. They also had these cool huge compasses for drawing arcs and circles on the chalk board that had a rubber thing in place of the metal point, and which accepted a stick of chalk into a kind of collet that was tightened by pushing a metal ring up a slotted taper.
 
  • #3
Have you tried the new white laser pointer?

http://www.dsllife.org/flashlight.jpg [Broken]

It really helps to shine light on the situation.

Dude, seriously. You officially have the geekiest poll. Kudos. :rofl:

Man you and your fancy pants presentation. My physics 3 professor would show us old films on old projectors. It was great. It had no sound, it would go tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk as the film spooled. Man I miss those lectures. He had old slides from the 60's that were out of production.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #4
Green is extremely visible and keeps peoples' focus right where it needs to be. Also makes me look cool.
I've found green to be awfully bright: it can be bothersome to look at the green point on the wall for a nontrivial length of time.
 
  • #5
Hurkyl said:
I've found green to be awfully bright: it can be bothersome to look at the green point on the wall for a nontrivial length of time.

It takes only a couple of seconds to point to a figure on a slideshow, which is the intended use. It's much easier to immediatly notice a bright green dot, than a dim red one.

I agree, it's bothersome to stare at it for long.

Dude, seriously. You officially have the geekiest poll. Kudos.

Hurray for me!
 
  • #6
zoobyshoe said:
Really, I like the old stick with the pointed rubber tip and the loop on the other end for hanging it up when not in use. The nuns used to use these when I was in grade school. They also had these cool huge compasses for drawing arcs and circles on the chalk board that had a rubber thing in place of the metal point, and which accepted a stick of chalk into a kind of collet that was tightened by pushing a metal ring up a slotted taper.
I like those too. Oh, oh, oh, they also used to have those chalk holders with 5 slots for the music teacher to draw scores on the board, or if you just put three pieces of chalk, the regular teacher could demonstrate the penmanship lessons. I loved the big compasses...they usually had a pencil eraser stuck on them though, to replace the rubber tip that had worn off between the time you were in school and I was in school. :biggrin:

When I did my post-doc, we had a long, bamboo pole to use for the screen that was too tall to use the smaller pointers on. I was never sure if I was giving a presentation or getting ready to go surf fishing. :rofl: That was before everyone had cell phones everywhere, but I imagine it would come in handy now to reach into the audience and thwack someone in the head if their cell phone started ringing. I'm sure the nuns who taught you in school would have also liked it for the gum chewers and note passers and whisperers. :biggrin: It just isn't nearly as fun to blind people with a laser pointer.
 
  • #7
rachmaninoff said:
It takes only a couple of seconds to point to a figure on a slideshow, which is the intended use. It's much easier to immediatly notice a bright green dot, than a dim red one.
The red ones aren't that dim or hard to see if they have fresh batteries in them. I have a red one that is strong enough to shine several houses down the street!
 
  • #8
Moonbear said:
It just isn't nearly as fun to blind people with a laser pointer.

How do you know? :eek:
 
  • #9
rachmaninoff said:
How do you know? :eek:
It was covered in the "pointing devices" unit of the "How to Torture Students" course every professor and teacher is required to take. :biggrin:
 
  • #10
rachmaninoff said:
Gamma-ray DeathStar (tm) http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=death+star&btnG=Google+Search" seems like a nice complement to any powerpoint presentation. Drawbacks - gamma rays are hard to focus, the dot might be too big to be useful (anyone have experience with this?); also, I've been told humanoids don't see gamma rays that well - is this true?
:rofl: But it would be highly effective with obnoxious and annoying self-declared experts who don't know have a clue about the subject matter and spout off dribble anyway. :biggrin: How many kW are we talking about here?

Or one could use arrange a spherical battery of them and induce fusion reactions in tiny bits of solid D2. :biggrin: But they would have to probably upgraded to MW's.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #11
zoobyshoe said:
Really, I like the old stick with the pointed rubber tip and the loop on the other end for hanging it up when not in use. The nuns used to use these when I was in grade school. They also had these cool huge compasses for drawing arcs and circles on the chalk board that had a rubber thing in place of the metal point, and which accepted a stick of chalk into a kind of collet that was tightened by pushing a metal ring up a slotted taper.
A yardstick works just as well. They're also cheaper and make a better sound when you smack them down on a desk, provided you don't smack them so hard they break.

In high school, we had a math teacher that broke his yardstick all the time. He had a closet with spare yardsticks along one side and broken yardsticks tossed on the floor.

There were lots of other stories about this guy, as well. He drove a Cadillac and wore a lot nicer suits than the other teachers. The rumor was that he'd invested in Xerox early and was rich. He didn't need to hold a teaching job to make a living - he taught just because he liked to torture students.

Actually, he was normally a nice guy, but had a tendency to publicly humiliate students that he found particularly frustrating, in addition to scaring them half to death with those damn yardsticks.
 

1. What is the most popular color for laser pointers?

The most popular color for laser pointers is green. This is because green light is the most visible to the human eye and can be seen in both dark and light environments.

2. Is there a reason why green is the most popular color for laser pointers?

Yes, green light is the most visible to the human eye and creates a bright, crisp beam. It is also easier to see against most backgrounds, making it a practical choice for presentations and demonstrations.

3. Are there any other popular colors for laser pointers?

Yes, blue and red are also popular colors for laser pointers. Blue is preferred for its intensity and visibility, while red is often used for its affordability.

4. Can different colors of laser pointers have different purposes?

Yes, different colors of laser pointers can have different purposes. For example, green laser pointers are often used in astronomy and outdoor settings, while red laser pointers are commonly used in classrooms and indoor presentations.

5. Are there any safety concerns with using different colored laser pointers?

Yes, certain colors of laser pointers, such as blue and green, can be more hazardous to the eyes compared to red laser pointers. It is important to always follow safety guidelines and not shine the laser directly into anyone's eyes.

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
21
Views
15K
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • Sci-Fi Writing and World Building
Replies
15
Views
3K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • Classical Physics
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Replies
1
Views
3K
Back
Top