Lasers Have Become Common Element in Industry’s Toolbox
Originally an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, lasers were first conceived by Albert Einstein, who theorized in 1916 that light could pass through a substance to create more light. Following research in later decades, lasers were made possible by Arthur L. Schawlow and Charles H. Townes of Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1960. They were able to bring visible light to Einsteins idea by expanding earlier studies into what were called "masers," a similar concept to lasers but limited to invisible microwaves.
From that point on, a multibillion-dollar technology industry exploded, with applications in any field that needed to draw a straight line fast and with pinpoint accuracy. Interest in construction grew out of early adoption among farmers for earthwork. Beyond widespread construction use, lasers have found a welcome home in todays operating rooms, auto-body alignment shops, retail checkout lines, office conference rooms, security systems and home stereos, just to name a few.