Pretty cool, but I always imagined it would be easier to build a "tricorder dock" for smartphones (with drivers for the new sensors and the necessary software/apps) - there's a lot more you could do with it, as well...
Oftentimes I find myself wondering what temperature it is outside and instinctively glancing at my watch...this seems like a great solution. I remember having a "Tricorder" program for my Palm Pilot but all it did was make Star Trek sounds, lol.<p>Sure, a smartphone add-on would be cool, but as the developer says, this device intended to be used by inquisitive children, not the kind of people who own smartphones.<p>I hope he can start producing these more efficiently soon; I wouldn't think twice before laying down a decent amount of money to have one of my own.
Actual technology that will bring about "tricorder-like" sensing: <a href="http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=568" rel="nofollow">http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsN...</a><p>Hyperspectral imaging also introduces the possibility of identifying all the objects in a scene. Terahertz waves can even "look through walls" of most material. Heck, we can do that with simple radio waves and enough computing power.[1] The only thing keeping that bench-top from being miniaturized into a handheld device are further electronic miniaturization and a phased array software antenna.<p>[1] <a href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/ll-seeing-through-walls-1018.html" rel="nofollow">http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/ll-seeing-through-walls-1...</a>