Smartphones to Incorporate Gas Sensor
Smartphones are getting a whole lot smarter these days. One of the most recent innovations in the area of embedded systems happens to be the development of gas detecting sensors that can be incorporated into mobile devices. These sensors can pick up traces of gases and even identify them.
Such technology will prove to be highly beneficial in the future. The ability to detect toxins in the air instantaneously could save hundreds or even, thousands of lives. Experts believe that these embedded sensors can also be used to monitor the user’s health. For example, it will become much easier to monitor sleep quality by using the sensor to measure carbon dioxide levels in the user’s room.
The near-microscopic gas sensor works by measuring the light that passes through the sample. The level of penetration at different wavelengths helps the sensor determine the type of gas and its composition. Carbon dioxide, for instance, has a high rate of light absorption at 4.2 micrometers (wavelength).
The use for such sensors can be quite extensive and there already seems to be a need for them, In the U.K, a new trend involves constructing houses with plastic over the foundation. This method has been known to contribute towards the accumulation of noxious gases. Now, the gas detecting sensors will be able to identify such gas build-ups and notify the residents.
