Fake or Real? Man builds Star Trek Phaser

[queenlillian1962]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuuL_Tel79g



http://now.msn.com/now/0426-real-life-phaser.aspx


Man builds working 'Star Trek' style phaser, blasts a balloon

8 hrs ago



We don't use the term "American hero" loosely, but it's no stretch to apply it to the guy who made a real-life Star Trek phaser that seems able to totally explode a balloon. That popped balloon means this thing is a viable weapon, and the video does not look faked. (Although who knows; remember bird man?) We will join Trekkies everywhere in holding up our hands, fingers parted at the middle, in salute to the pure ingenuity and dedication of a DIY phaser. While sites debate how it actually works and savor that sweet balloon pop, we want to know where and how soon can we buy one?

[Malcolm Wright]

He only needs a phaser because he can't even pop the balloon with his mind. Jedi powers own phasers any day.

[queenlillian1962]

Well yeah, but not everybody can be a Jedi Knight, you have to be stong with the force and go through years of traning. However almost anybody can work a phaser so it gets points for that and it pops annoying balloons.

[Going Postal]

A needle gun fired with compressed air...

[Malcolm Wright]

Well yeah, but not everybody can be a Jedi Knight, you have to be stong with the force and go through years of traning. However almost anybody can work a phaser so it gets points for that and it pops annoying balloons.

Yeah, that balloon was annoying.
Had it coming.

[Mrmint]

And here i thought it would be an actual laser that could cause damage :(. Maybe he should use the bluray lens.

[queenlillian1962]

A needle gun fired with compressed air...

Thanks for bursting my bubble, I like it better when it was a phaser, lol. I thought maybe it heated the balloon enough to pop it but I guess not:(.

[queenlillian1962]

Yeah, that balloon was annoying.
Had it coming.

My sisters and my middle daughter hate balloons so they would agree with you.

[BooRadley]

You can get a 1 watt laser that will pop balloons for about $300, and a toy phaser for about $10. A little effort and you could probably make the same thing.

[Xavier Tremely]

Toy phaser with laser pointer installed in the tip.
High powered laser (which would not fit within the toy housing) nearby, aimed at balloon.
Fire "phaser" at balloon.At the same time, high-power laser at balloon, popping it.
Use Adobe After Effects to paint in purple laser beam graphic video overlay, (more or less a line from the phaser tip to the red dot on the wall, plus "glimmer" effects.)


It's interesting that video editing & animation have gotten to the point that yesterday's proof can be easily & cheaply fabricated today.

[Xavier Tremely]

On second thought, it appears these lasers have gotten small enough that it could fit inside the toy housing. Wow, so much progress since I last worked with lasers! The beam may even be real, if there is sufficient particulate matter in the air of the workshop. So yeah, I change my position to real.