Using 3-axis accelerometers, a small hand-held device could measure straight-line distance or path distance by pressing a button at the start point, moving the device to the end point and pressing a button. The motion from start to end does not have to be careful. For example, to measure the length of your car, place the device at the front bumper and press a button. Then walk casually to the rear bumper and press a button. The device displays the straight-line distance on a small screen.Might this work? Is there other existing technology that could be used aside from accelerometers?
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There might be more accurate technologis, such as sonic or laser ranging (which there are measuring devices based on those technologies) or GPS.
Don't sonic and laser technologies need to bounce something off a surface? What about cost? I'd hope this would be an inexpensive device, something everybody might have in their homes.
For around the home I use a tape measure. It doesn't get much more economical than that.
You're absolutely right. A regular tape measure is cheap. That aside, is this technology feasible? I've many times wanted to throw my tape measure out the window, because the little metal elbow at "0 inches" doesn't stay where it's supposed to. I also always lose the scrap paper I scratch the measurements onto (or rely on my faulty memory to remember the numbers.) I'd much prefer a Star Trek-type device.
Doesn't stay where it is supposet to how? It is supposed to be that little bit loos e, so you can measure inside and outside dimensions.
Also, an abacus is good at adding, but I'd rather use a calculator. Let's look forward and see if this idea has technological merit or not.
Speaking of that little hooky thing at the end of a measuring tape... why not make it more hook-like and retractable? There could be two release buttons: one for the tape lock and one for the hook retraction. Or why not have a magnet at the end? Or a suction cup attachment?
Seano, I think it's a great idea. Forward looking and creative. The first questions I'd have in actually implementing it are:
1) accuracy of accelerometers,
2) cost to build.
And like you say, the display could just show a straight line distance from the origin. I don't think you'd have to worry about orientation of the device.
I guess you'd have a little locator stud on it to actually place on the exact spot, right? Maybe a little handgrip shape with the stud sticking out under your thumb...
Paul