Jing Li, a physical scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., along with other researchers working under the Cell-All program in the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, developed a proof of concept of new technology that would bring compact, low-cost, low-power, high-speed nanosensor-based chemical sensing capabilities to cell phones.
The device Li developed is about the size of a postage stamp and is designed to be plugged in to an iPhone to collect, process and transmit sensor data. The new device is able to detect and identify low concentrations of airborne ammonia, chlorine gas and methane. The device senses chemicals in the air using a ‘sample jet’ and a multiple-channel silicon-based sensing chip, which consists of 16 nanosensors, and sends detection data to another phone or a computer via telephone communication network or Wi-Fi.
Pictured is the chemical sensing prototype plugged into an iPhone 30-pin dock connector with the display-side up.
More info and photos in the full article here.
ET phone home.
Very very cool!
Who can’t use one of those?!
Jesus Christ! It’s a tricorder!
Its going to be rejected by apple 🙁
Yeah, they called me to help test the methane sensor.
The new device is able to detect and identify low concentrations of airborne ammonia, chlorine gas and methane.
Obviously, this will give rise to a whole new class of fart app.
SC
Firefighter chief on line 4 with an order for every fire fighter in the house.
I take it, you love broccoli and baked beans…?
I was all like, wow, bomb sensor, til I read the part about methane detection. Technology will finally be able to prove who “dealt” it…
As I said when it first came out– We are getting closer and closer to the true Star Trek Tricorder…
We already have Kirk’s communicator in the iPhone itself….
Jjust a bored trekkie in ALaska
@NCIceman … nah, he who iPhoned it dealt it.
You dealt it. My iPhone smelt it.
REJECTED
The iPhone and iTablet will eventually have a built-in pheromone sensor that will be location detectable and make dating apps more useful, along with all the other chemical / odor sensing that will be incorporated.
In fact these devices will soon take advantage of all 5 senses enhanced and will move into what is now called extrasensory perception but which soon will have a scientific understanding and be used in apps.
Courtesy flush please!
Can also be used as a Balmer b***s*** detector.
@Tom
Firefighter chief on line 4 with an order for every fire fighter in the house.
As a firefighter, I can tell you that unless it detects carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide, it only does half a job (methane & ammonia). These four gasses are what our standard four gas analyzers do now.
And no, not everyone in the house needs one. One unit for everyone is enough.
Why does the screen show Bias’ iProRecorder? To convert SBDs to sound?
If this device can detect the bullshit wafting through the air every time Nancy Pelosi opens her mouth, Apple will undoubtedly reject it.
“tricorder”
Dead on.
The “Smellophone” …!!
Maybe they’re trying to detect if there are any Zunes nearby?
Maybe they need to find some friends – there can’t be very many of them down at ‘the Social’…
Hey, Josh.
We’re trying to keep these non-political threads as non-political as possible. How ’bout keeping your opinions to yourself? Remember, opinions are like a-holes… Head on over to the “Apple rejects iPhone app featuring caricatures of politicians; deems Pelosi drawing ‘offensive’” thread if you want to spout off.
Hey Christian,
Get over yourself already. I’ll say what I damn well please to say and I won’t concern myself about your approval. You’re not going to censor me, although liberals like yourself think they’re entitled to do just that.
And in case you haven’t noticed, all your post did was to make this MORE political, rather than less. Have you learned anything?
You don’t like it, well, you’ll just have to suck it up, bubba.
GFY!