I wonder what the green lasers are for in the Cairo news footage...

[JohnnyRingo]

At first I thought they may be for weapons targeting, but they continue in every live shot of the embassy without apparent reason. They seem to bounce about like they're filming at a disco.

Anyone have a theory?

[The Magistrate]

1. Kids Just Love Those Things, Sir

The way the spots play on the smoke, particularly.

Cats like them, too; cats will chase that dot all over the floor....

[JohnnyRingo]

2. True that...

But green lasers are much more expensive and usually made for industry. I saw in one clip where one appeared to be mounted on a building.

On edit:
I see some are indeed handheld, but why the green ones? Does that color have some political significance?

[MicaelS]

4. Green lasers are more powerful than red lasers.

But not as powerful as blue lasers.

http://www.tested.com/news/news/830-know-your-laser-spectrum-red-vs-green-vs-blue-vs-yellow/

[Blue_Tires]

5. thanks...i never knew that....

[Triloon]

3. green lasers are brighter and

have a longer throw than red. You are seeing them being used by both the police and the protesters for two purposes. First, to dazzle the eyes of the opponent and second, to temporariy blind video cameras. These are not toys or annoyances, they are tactical street weapons.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Depends on the power being used

Generally green has more energy and therefore more damage potential. Several web shops quit selling them due to concerns about misuse.

I tend to use green lasers for camera suppression now that the cost has come down.

[JohnnyRingo]

7. Thanx... I suspected as much.

...But I never heard of such lasers being used in crowd control situations. Makes perfect sense now. I suppose it's better than rubber bullets and gas (unless that's coming next).