History and Future of Laser Technology In 1960, the laser was an embryonic research tool with no clear applications beyond the laboratory — "a solution in search of a problem." Since then, the laser has acquired immense commercial, industrial, and scientific importance. Its impact on how we live, from health care to entertainment to national security, has been enormous. This session tells the story of how the laser came to be, and provides a first-hand account of the birth and early growth of this ubiquitous scientific device. It also recognizes a major celebration, LaserFest.