30, 20, and 10 Years Ago in OPN

“Advances in semiconductor materials growth and processing have resulted in major progress toward semiconductor micro-lasers with ultra-low thresholds and dimensions approaching a wavelength of the emitted light. These small dimensions and low operating powers may result in large, dense arrays of light sources operating at wavelengths from the near-infrared well into the visible … It is hoped that there will be significant commercial applications within the next five years.”