Turn Your Phone into a Toolkit: Measure Angles, Distances, and Light with These Apps
This article details how to use your smartphone as a versatile toolkit, leveraging it’s built-in sensors and readily available apps to perform tasks traditionally requiring dedicated tools. here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways:
1. Digital Protractor with clinometer:
* Function: Measures angles and checks levelness.
* App: Clinometer (Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plaincode.clinometer&hl=en)
* Technology: Uses the phone’s accelerometer and gyroscope.
* How to Use: Hold the phone vertically to measure angles, horizontally to check levelness.
* Cost: Free with in-app purchases for additional features (relative angle tool, camera view).
* Use Case: Leveling a cooktop is given as an example.
2. Distance Measurement with Smart Measure:
* Function: Estimates distance to objects.
* App: Smart Measure (android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.measure&hl=en)
* technology: Uses trigonometry, phone height, and the angle of the phone.
* How to Use: Point the crosshair at the base of the object. Ensure correct phone height is entered.
* Reliability: Most accurate for distances under 30m. Can measure up to 75m.
* Related App: Smart Distance (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.sira.distance&hl=en) for distances up to 1km.
3. Light Meter with Lux Light Meter:
* Function: Measures illuminance (light levels).
* App: Lux Light Meter (Android – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.waldau_webdesign.app.luxmeter&hl=en)
* Technology: Uses the phone’s light sensor.
* How to Use: Hold the phone in front of the object/area to measure light levels (in lux). The app displays current illumination and a ancient graph.
* Use Case: Useful for photography, especially in low-light conditions, to avoid high ISO settings and noise.
In essence, the article highlights how smartphones, with the help of specific apps, can replace several traditional tools, offering convenience and accessibility for everyday tasks.
