Smart scientific instruments based on smartphones: a brief review

Chitnarong Sirisathitkul, Yaowarat Sirisathitkul

Abstract


Smartphone has gone beyond a communication hub to be a measurement device itself, thanks to various built-in sensors. This article reviewed achievements in transforming ubiquitous smartphones into cost-effective scientific instruments for educational laboratories, environmental studies, point-of-care diagnostics, home-based health monitoring, and rehabilitation. Magnetic fields were precisely measured by built-in magnetometers, leading to demonstrations for engineering and medical applications. The smartphone-based joint-angle measurement was a viable alternative to traditional goniometers. Characterizations of optical signals captured by cameras led to portable spectrophotometers and colorimeters for both educational and practical uses. Interestingly, smartphones became a platform for high-resolution microscopes and fluorescence microscopes were developed with add-on components. These smart instruments become even more attractive options in the pandemic period with limited facility and laboratory access.

Keywords


colorimeter; joint angle; magnetic field; microscope; smartphone sensor; spectrophotometer;

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DOI: http://doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v13i1.pp651-657

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International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE)
p-ISSN 2088-8708, e-ISSN 2722-2578

This journal is published by the Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science (IAES) in collaboration with Intelektual Pustaka Media Utama (IPMU).