THE EMITTED COLOR OF THE TASER-TAG VEST CHANGES TO RED WHEN THE WEARER IS "TAGGED" BY A LASER BEAM. While the usual purpose of optical fiber is to guide light along a longitudinal axis, Lumitex (Strongsville, OH) is exploiting advantages to be obtained by defeating that purpose, for instance in creating optically interactive apparel for people who play laser tag. The company's laser-tag vest emits light of appropriate color (either blue or green) to designate the wearer's team. The emitted color changes to red when the wearer is "tagged" by a laser beam, but only when the wavelength indicates that it came from a member of the opposite team. The vest is woven of plastic (acrylic) optical fibers that carry the incident laser light to a photodiode and controlling circuitry for a three-chip red/green/blue LED array.
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