20th Century Technology

Laser
Laser technology (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) was invented in 1960 by American physicist Theodore H. Maiman. Generated from solid crystals, liquids or gases, laser beams now permeate our daily lives. In the medical field, lasers have replaced the scalpel in certain types of surgery. Supermarket scanners use them to read bar codes, while CD players wouldn't work without them. Lasers have also changed the face of modern warfare; laser-guided missiles and bombs represent the most accurate means of targeting, thus making warfare more efficient and preventing loss of innocent life.

• The Voting Machines of America