Laser Hallway: Difference between revisions

 

== Literature ==

 

* An episode of ''[[Space Precinct]] 2040'' had a laser trap inside a bomb. The laser was shown by firing a fire extinguisher not-directly-at the bomb in question.

* The ''[[MythBusters]]'' thoroughly debunked this trope, first by discovering that visible laser security systems such as these simply don't exist (invisible infrared laser systems are sold instead), and secondly by demonstrating that even with a crude homemade mockup of the typical Laser Hallway most of the usual "circumvention methods" used on TV and the movies won't work, and can in fact trigger it. Specifically, they found that blowing smoke/powder at red lasers (jury-rigged from laser pointers) does make them visible, but not long or well enough to be very helpful without setting them off. Night-vision goggles plus powder make even IR beams visible, but with the same problem. Deflecting a beam with a mirror or hitting the detector with another beam worked, but was impractical. And most of their attempts assume beams placed so you could squeeze past them if only you knew where they were. Ironically, the ultrasonic motion sensors can be beaten with the ludicrous methods (tried almost on a whim by the producers) of holding up a bedsheet or simply walking at a snail's pace. Were it not for the fact that these methods violate the [[Rule of Cool]], I'm sure we'd have seen Tom Cruise using them in the next ''[[Mission: Impossible]]'' movie.