3 ms·

Where is the technology for this? This is an idea I had as a kid, everything I learned about science deems this possible.

TomMarius 7y ago
There is a lot of research just lying around, waiting to be used. Check out PEANO-HASEL.
mhb 7y ago
https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_zap_malaria/transcript?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_z...
- MagnumOpus 7y ago
  Yes, I think this guy Myhrvold (who got rich managing some smart scientists at MS) owns a patent trolling business and slapped a patent on it, so nobody else can make and sell a mosquito laser cannon. The devil incarnate, apparently.
  - com2kid 7y ago
    He gave a talk on it at an HN meetup in Seattle. The true problem is that back when it was first invented, it wasn't practical. They are still improving it and trying to get it field tested. Still though, lasers take a fair bit of power, and there is a distinct lack of power in places where mosquitoes are the thickest. Also people get a bit touchy about "AI controlled lasers" in populated areas, even if the laser is low power. The fact that they are still trying to improve it despite the lack of a huge economic incentive is a good thing IMHO.
  - xj9 7y ago
    the key word being make and sell. the design is publicly available, you just need to have the patience to build one yourself and you can have anything you like even if it is patented
    - throwaway07Ju19 7y ago
      IIRC technically patent law prohibits you from making it even if you don't plan on selling.
      - brlewis 7y ago
        Yes, you recall correctly. https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-information-concerning-patents#heading-2 https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-inform... The key word is not and, but or. “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling”
      - mhb 7y ago
        OK. But the prohibition is enforced by the patent holder suing for damages. It seems 1) unlikely that the patent holder will discover the infringement in the case of a DIYer, 2) that they will go to the trouble of suing for damages and 3) that the damages will amount to anything significant.

TomMarius 7y ago

There is a lot of research just lying around, waiting to be used. Check out PEANO-HASEL.

mhb 7y ago

https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_zap_malaria/transcript?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_z...

MagnumOpus 7y ago
Yes, I think this guy Myhrvold (who got rich managing some smart scientists at MS) owns a patent trolling business and slapped a patent on it, so nobody else can make and sell a mosquito laser cannon. The devil incarnate, apparently.
- com2kid 7y ago
  He gave a talk on it at an HN meetup in Seattle. The true problem is that back when it was first invented, it wasn't practical. They are still improving it and trying to get it field tested. Still though, lasers take a fair bit of power, and there is a distinct lack of power in places where mosquitoes are the thickest. Also people get a bit touchy about "AI controlled lasers" in populated areas, even if the laser is low power. The fact that they are still trying to improve it despite the lack of a huge economic incentive is a good thing IMHO.
- xj9 7y ago
  the key word being make and sell. the design is publicly available, you just need to have the patience to build one yourself and you can have anything you like even if it is patented
  - throwaway07Ju19 7y ago
    IIRC technically patent law prohibits you from making it even if you don't plan on selling.
    - brlewis 7y ago
      Yes, you recall correctly. https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-information-concerning-patents#heading-2 https://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-inform... The key word is not and, but or. “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling”
    - mhb 7y ago
      OK. But the prohibition is enforced by the patent holder suing for damages. It seems 1) unlikely that the patent holder will discover the infringement in the case of a DIYer, 2) that they will go to the trouble of suing for damages and 3) that the damages will amount to anything significant.