Shedding light on laser pointers

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At less than $20, they're a hot new toy, but to cops and schools,they're not so cool

Monday, September 7, 1998

BY MARK CURNUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Eric Wilfong, 11, gets a laser beam on the noggin as he points his laser during a game of "manhunt." (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

Almost every day this summer ended the same way for Robert Gastenveld and his friends in Park Hills: with a laser-pointer game of "manhunt."

"We'd have 10 guys after it got dark," Robert, 11, said. "When you get hit, you're it."

Once used primarily by executives and college professors for presentations and lectures, hand-held laser pointers have dropped in price and become the latest gotta-have-it techie toy.

The pointers emit a reddish-orange ray of light that can travel up to three-quarters of a mile. They're popular with pre-teens, teens, men between 25 and 55 and pet owners, say manufacturers, who consider them a fun, harmless toy.

But the pencil-sized, battery-powered laser pointers, and the ways some people use them, are drawing criticism. Nationwide, some school districts have banned laser pointers as a distraction and a potential danger to eyes.

Haand-held laser pointers come with a variety of tips that create silhouettes when the beam shines through them. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

Although the pointers tend to use low-level, low-intensity lasers and are considered safe, some could be dangerous if pointed at the pupil for a prolonged period.

Last spring, administrators at Indian Hill Middle School confiscated laser pointers from two students and returned them at the end of the day. Students were told not to bring laser pointers to school.

Cincinnati Public Schools has yet to address laser pointers directly. But John Concannon, its general counsel, says pointers could be banned under an existing code of conduct that prohibits electronic devices (beepers, cassette players and headphones, cell phones and radios) in schools.

"We'd be perfectly within our rights to do something about it, if they are a distraction in class or in the hallways between classes," he said.

Police in New York and cities along U.S. beaches have complained about being "dotted." Training a laser pointer on an officer is dangerous, because the dot can be confused for a laser sight on guns, police say.

Some police departments also report that laser pointers are the latest ploy of road-raging drivers, who shine the light into other motorists' faces.

But neither the Cincinnati Police Division nor the Kentucky State Police report any incidents or arrests related to laser pointers. One of the nation's largest distributors of laser pointers is Dayton, Ohio-based MiracleBeam.

"With every laser we sell, we have a sheet that says, even though the pointer is perfectly safe, it's rude to shine it on other people," company vice president Delena Giattino said.

MiracleBeam shipped more than 100,000 of the Taiwan-made products in August. They are sold at kiosk shops in five area malls, including Kenwood, Tri-County, Northgate and Florence in the Tristate.

The basic model retails for $19.99. Hologram tips ($2) fit onto the pointer tip and project any one of two dozen lighted shapes -- including an angel, a spaceship, a dinosaur and a nude woman.

"Business is doubling every week," Ms. Giattino said of the company, which was established three months ago. In that time, the number of employees has increased from two to 45 to keep pace with orders.

The company is developing six new products and has made headway into the pet market. Cats and dogs, in particular, love to chase the light beam.

Jack's Aquarium & Pets, which has eight Tristate locations, has ordered a 36-item display of laser pointers from Miracle Beam to place in each of its 25 stores.

Laser pointers shone first a few years ago in the domain of business executives who liked to use them instead of wooden pointers during presentations.

Joe Shields, vice president of Wordsworth Communications, a public-relations company in Fairfax, has sat through presentations in which laser pointers were used.

"It was good for pie charts or when there were multiple images on the screen," he said. "Instead of saying "top left,' you can put a red dot on it."

Beyond their limited use, laser pointers are an image thing, Mr. Shields says.

"It's technology. It's cool. It gives the guy an air, like he's a player, like a cell phone," Mr. Shields said, "but when you think about it, there's really not much to it. They're best left as a toy for kids."

Kids like his nephew, Robert Gastenveld.

Robert knows laser pointers can bring trouble. A friend came over this summer and flashed the light into a neighbor's house.

"(The neighbor) came over and wanted to know what was going on," Robert said. "My dad took my laser away from me for a week, even though I didn't do it."

Laser pointers present danger

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