these things are mini-lightsabers, apparently

[Lizardizzle]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wo...red_To_Star_Wars_Weapon_Sold_On_Web_To_The_UK

A handheld laser likened to a Star Wars lightsabre and so powerful it can instantly blind and "set fire to skin and other body parts" can be bought online and shipped to the UK.

As well as blinding, burning and causing cancer, its Hong Kong-based maker admits that "a split-second laser light in a plane cockpit (...) can be disastrous".

Mr Colton, who has published a recent study on laser safety, said the 1W beam was 1,000 times stronger than laser pointers normally available to the public.

News of the laser has sparked a flurry of excitement on social networking websites.
One person wrote: "Real lasers that resemble Star Wars lightsabres, that can burn skin, cut through plastic and ignite matches - yes please."
Another wrote: "The fact that it looks like a lightsabre is even cooler."
One more said: "I must have this. Birthday present anyone? I will KILL things, with FIRE."

danger issues aside, this is actually pretty amazing tech to me. The strongest lasers I know of just light matches and pop balloons.

 

[Krynn72]

Damn, the actual housing for the device is even molded to look like a light saber. Thats is awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxfFrFS_jys

 

[Jintor]

Holy shit.

 

[Robbo]

If only we could get them here.

I think they banned importing stuff like this after people started pointing lasers at landing aircraft

 

[ian1]

'tis pretty cool, that thermal discouragement beam.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Trading standards chiefs said they were "seriously concerned" about the sale of the model and have warned against its use.

Bet they're regretting that time they waived adding a clause for the sale of death lasers now.

 

[Raziaar]

Wait... so we're going to have morons out there carrying these things around? And instead of being a temporary annoyance with very minor eye damage if they point it at my eyes for a split second, it'll now instantly blind me?

And you say morons will carry these?

I'm scared.

 

[MJ12]

Wait... so we're going to have morons out there carrying these things around? And instead of being a temporary annoyance with very minor eye damage if they point it at my eyes for a split second, it'll now instantly blind me?

And you say morons will carry these?

I'm scared.

This. ****.

But there are no videos yet of it in action, I remain skeptical.

 

[Colonel Kernel]

It shouldn't be sold without a permit..

 

[PvtRyan]

Jesus, Star Wars fans that are mentally unstable enough (read: all of them) to want this because it "looks like a lightsaber" are positively the last people that should be able to get this. I mean, Star Wars kid + that thing = many blind people. It should be treated as a deadly weapon as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Raziaar]

Jesus, Star Wars fans that are mentally unstable enough (read: all of them) to want this because it "looks like a lightsaber" are positively the last people that should be able to get this. I mean, Star Wars kid + that thing = many blind people. It should be treated as a deadly weapon as far as I'm concerned.

If it does what it's said to do... yes.

I mean, that thing should be treated just like a firearm if you can instantly reach out a considerable distance to blind people or set things on fire.


One word... arsonists.

 

[bam23]

That's one of the first things that I thought. Idiots are gonna be walking around with this thing setting fire and blinding people from distance? U srs? It's a hoodlum's dildo.

 

[Tyguy]

Plus the beam doesn't exactly stop a few feet from the source making it the longest light saber ever. Tempting but I'll wait for force grip to come out.

 

[Ravioli]

>Realize that these "lightsabers" arent even remotely close to real Starwars Lightsabers, and that we will never ever have those, ever.

 

[Tyguy]

>Realize that these "lightsabers" arent even remotely close to real Starwars Lightsabers, and that we will never ever have those, ever.

Technically they were around a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

 

[Remus]

>Realize that these "lightsabers" arent even remotely close to real Starwars Lightsabers, and that we will never ever have those, ever.

Never say never.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G8VztSWnVo

The cool thing is that if the nano battery will become reality in the near future, it also means that at least some of the energy based weapons you see in sci-fi movies/games would become reality.

 

[hot564231]

Paging Mr Lucas for copyright violations!

 

[Remus]

Paging Mr Lucas for copyright violations!

The funny thing is that if a real light-saber was ever built it couldn't be called that because of the reason you just mentioned...

 

[flamingdts]

The laser for the lightsabers stops abruptly to create a sword type weapon, but that is not possible. Light does not suddenly stop traveling.

And I hope this isn't real. This weapon is far too dangerous, and will become the perfect murder weapon. How are you supposed to catch the culprit if he could set victims on fire from a distance with a tool like this? No bullet, no trace, no nothing. Heck, you could burn an entire army with a few of these if it is as effective as it claims to be.

Though I doubt this is real. I have yet been able to find a video demonstration, which should be out by now if the product is ready for shipping.

 

[Tyguy]

The laser for the lightsabers stops abruptly to create a sword type weapon, but that is not possible. Light does not suddenly stop traveling.

I think the general consensus among star wars geeks is it's plasma held together by electromagnetism and carbon nano-tubes...duh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSNubaa7n9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_Hq1f8-0E&annotation_id=annotation_657513&feature=iv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLcEYbAdyxk&annotation_id=annotation_909751&feature=iv

 

[15357]

Uh, I don't think making this available to people is a good idea.

 

[Tyguy]

Uh, I don't think making this available to people is a good idea.

Where were you when the hydrogen bomb was being built!

 

[No Limit]

Though I doubt this is real. I have yet been able to find a video demonstration, which should be out by now if the product is ready for shipping.

This ^

 

[15357]

Where were you when the hydrogen bomb was being built!

Nah, H-bombs are cool.

In fact:

Oh Little H-Bomb Silo,

how sweetly dost thou lie.

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

The spy satellites glide by.

Yet in thy darkness shineth

The Everlasting Light.

The hopes and dreams of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.

For war is born of terror,

and gathered all around,

while angels sleep the mortals keep

their watch on a smoldering hatred.

Oh morning stars of midnight,

proclaim unholy birth!

As children scream we gain the dream

of ... peace ... for men on Earth.



Anyway, this definately should be classified as a deadly weapon.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

$197 for a laser that powerful. Bullshit.

The funny thing is that if a real light-saber was ever built it couldn't be called that because of the reason you just mentioned...

Official name - Plasma-saber. Everyone will still call it - lightsaber

 

[kdub70]

i want one!

 

[CyberPitz]

Saving some money up for my neighbor and me to go half and half on this. Still gotta figure out if we'll even get it, because if it has to be shipped through customs, no way.

 

[hot564231]

Just get a human mule to stick it up their arse and smuggle it in.