Spike - Measure Anything !!

A device that is a boon for Architects and Engineers just recently launched. It measures distances and heights of any object over air through laser technology, and that’s not it. The best part is that this technology is filled in your smartphone - the researchers have developed an app too for it.

The device needs to be attached to the back of a smartphone and then can be used as a laser range finder after which the user can just take a photo of the object they wish to measure through the Spike companion app on their smartphone. The hardware then measures key metrics, such as distance, direction and volume and communicates this data to the smartphone via Bluetooth, displaying the augmented results on the screen. Users can then share this data, or use it to produce 3D models with what the company says is laser accuracy. According to it's successful Kickstarter campaign page, the company will allow third party app developers access to an API (application programming interface), enabling the embedding of specialist ikeTools into applications in anticipation of augmented reality and location based services apps. Spike is also compatible with 3D modeling software SketchUp. This means that rather than importing measurements manually, users can take an image with Spike to reproduce a scalable model of the object or building and 3D-print it as required. The entire device weighs approximately 100 g (3.5 oz) and measures 90 x 50 x 20 mm (3.5 x 2 x .8 in).

Spike is powered by an internal Li-ion cell battery recharged via a Micro USB connector, with each charge lasting two days of typical use, according to the company. You can pre-order it on the official website for US$559 with shipping estimated for May 2014.

Source: ikeGPS