1.   At the bottom, workers position the packages on another conveyor so that a laser can read the bar code that contains information about where each package is headed.

2.   A laser reads a compact disc much like a stylus reads a phonograph record.

3.   The disks, which like compact disks are read by lasers, are also expected to be used to store computer data and video games.

4.   The precision of such light beams is why lasers can read grocery bar codes so fast, or decode music on a compact disk.

5.   The board approved three types of optical scan machines in which lasers read printed or hand-marked symbols on ballots.