Comments on: The Prism: Laser Synth-Guitar

By: jeff-o

jeff-o — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:55:39 +0000

Well, I do appreciate your concern. I will probably switch over to red 5mW laser modules soon, since the green laser pointers I used can’t be focused well enough. I had also hoped that the green laser beams would be visible in dim light, but they’re not – not enough, anyway. So, I may as well use red lasers instead even through they’re not as cool.

In the meantime, only adults are allowed to play the Prism, and my kid will get a different instrument to play. A sequencer, maybe? I have to decide!

By: concino

concino — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:15:44 +0000

jeff-o,
You cannot assess the damage laser is doing to your eye by assessing if it is dazzling your eye or not. People who work with really powerful lasers can get a hole in their retina in a split second of focusing their eye to the laser beam (even when it is reflected, if the reflection surface is highly reflected and the beam is strong enough) This is painless and you wouldn’t know that you’ve damaged your eye until you realize that there is a spot in your vision that doesn’t go away. Granted a 10mW laser cannot cause this type of damage, but prolonged exposure would cause damage to your retina. This project is using 10mW laser which is way stronger than it needs to be (5mw would’ve been enough). Also even thought it is not as cool, red laser would’ve been much much safer.

More importantly, when you focus to a bright spot with your eye, even if it is reflected, you are collecting all those beams of light and focusing it on a tiny space on your retina, that is intensifying the power of the laser, and you are doing it in a short distance of 2 feet. Even worse for the kid in the video as he is several inches away from it, and he doesn’t know that he shouldn’t look at a green laser for a prolonged period of time.

By: jeff-o

jeff-o — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:47:44 +0000

I suppose I should add that the videos really do over-emphasize how bright the lasers are. Since the camera is trying to pull in as much light as possible (I filmed in less than ideal brightness), the laser light appears very bright. In practice, it tends to illuminate your finger but it doesn’t dazzle your eyes or anything.

By: Rex

Rex — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:53:43 +0000

It’s not very prudent to have children playing with lasers. Nor adults as it shows :P They are looking strait into the laser light reflected by the fingers. Although not as strong as a direct light it still causes some damage to the retina.
It’s cool but not really 100% safe.

By: rooftop ridicule

rooftop ridicule — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:38:25 +0000

i circuit bend like crazy and I’m really passionate about using my instruments as instruments. For example, I add a trimpot and tune all the toy keyboards so when you make them go crazy the knobs can normal back and be on-key. I play several instruments in a rock band and we write it all in there so it’s not a gaudy or overbearing use of the circuit-bent stuff, very tasteful.

anyhow, I really appreciate and relate to that concept of homemade instruments playing actual melodies and such.

By: Ninja

Ninja — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:39:54 +0000

Somebody cut that kids hands off.

By: concino

concino — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:34:15 +0000

@TMH,

From: “http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-44173.html”

Dennis Robertson, M.D., Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist, conducted investigations with a green laser pointer directed to the retina of a patient’s eye; the eye was scheduled for removal because of a malignancy. The green laser damaged the pigment layer of the retina, although it did not cause a measurable decrease in the visual function of the patient’s eye. Dr. Robertson believes that longer exposures could harm vision, however. He also warns about potential damage from higher-powered green laser pointers. “With the use of laser pointers that are more powerful than five milliwatts, there would likely be damage to the actual vision,” he says. “Functional damage could occur within seconds.”

By: signal7

signal7 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:46:23 +0000

even I have to admit I skip any post relating to synths because most of them are little more than noise makers. Thanks for putting some perspective on the meaning of synth vs noise maker.

By: jeff-o

jeff-o — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:44:55 +0000

Hey everyone, fresh videos are up. Last night I filmed some basic frequency sweeps, some effects demos, and myself actually trying to play it. I’m not at the point where I can play “Smoke on the Water” just yet, though!

Here’s the music demo:

http://www.youtube.com/user/digitalfalcon00#play/all/uploads-all/0/LkHEzJ-F3hk

Visit the original Instructable (or my YouTube page) for the other demos.

By: thatdude

thatdude — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:50:48 +0000

sounds like my old dial-up internet…..

By: TMH

TMH — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:01:07 +0000

concino, you keep your kids locked up in a basement with no lights, no TV and helmets on their heads…. don’t you? lol

Overprotective much?

By: concino

concino — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:21:01 +0000

Am I the only one thinks that this is not a child-safe project? Why the heck that kid is exposed to lasers that can seriously damage his/her sight? Even though beams are directed parallel to the guitar’s plane, once the beam is cut, the reflection on the white backdrop and the eye’s focusing ability can make this harmful to the eye. I don’t hate kids but I hate dumbass parents.

By: noises

noises — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:44:04 +0000

hey there’s nothing wrong with just making noises and not everything has to be a bastardized techno guitar. transcend your inborn pragmatism for a minute and try to appreciate this creation.

By: TMH

TMH — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:34:02 +0000

@uncivlengr: That’s much better. You can really hear the potential of it being an instrument in that one.

@jeff-O: POST THE VIDS SOON! We wanna hear you rock on your kick ass toy!

By: sunjester

sunjester — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:30:19 +0000

I’d love to hear a song as well. Children can be cute but c’mon, maybe some serious demo action?

Also… what if they were dvd lasers? thats half a lightsabre yea?