Participate in Citizen Science or Smartphone Science

[RJN]

This forum is being re-generalized in 2012 August and so this introduction has changed. Rather than focus solely on "Citizen Science", I would now like to extend this forum to also include "Smartphone Science". The citizen science posts and projects listed below are, to my knowledge, still active, and I continue to encourage anyone with interest to participate. There are some really interesting projects already listed in which anyone with intelligence and dedication can make a difference.

About "Smartphone Science": Most scientists and millions of people have recently started carrying around a sophisticated electronic measuring device called a smartphone. In the near future, other devices such as smart glasses and possibly even smart jewelry might have even greater capabilities. These include the ability to self-locate, orient, hear, see, detect vibration, detect magnetic fields, process information, and communicate data automatically. But is this data of any use? What real scientific questions might be addressable? Please consider not only "Citizen Science" but inexpensive or supportive "Scientist Science" -- what apps might help a scientist "in the field"?

After some thoughts focused by a recent conference, it appears to me that smartphone science goals can be divided into at least three categories: "Primary Science", "Support Science", and "Citizen Science". The utility of smartphones might be further divided into two categories: "Measuring Device", and "Display Device". All permutations of these potential smartphone uses are presently welcome to be discussed here. Also, posts need not be focused just on astronomy. Furthermore, articles in the press that discuss smartphone use for science, even if touting only a single application, are welcome.

Most present smartphone apps that I can find could be classified under "Citizen Science" and "Display Device". One example of this is the ground-breaking Galaxy Zoo smartphone app. Conversely, however, I am recently particularly interested in the smartphone "Measuring Device" category -- what measurements can smartphones make that can help do any type of science?

One type of post appropriate for this forum is therefore the simple listing of a smartphone app that takes a scientific measurement. This can be a camera app particularly good for some type of science, for example astronomy, But good apps could be quite different. For example a useful base smartphone app might measure and record magnetic fields. Or blood glucose levels (non-astronomy, of course). Or something completely different.

Another type of post appropriate for this forum is a "Primary Science" question that might be addressable with a smartphone or a bunch of smartphones carried about by interested people. One example could be using the motion detector in multiple smartphones together as an earthquake detector. One primary science question this app might answer is "what seismic activity occurs around given locations?"

I do hope to be listing a few of my own initial thoughts and finds here as they occur, and encourage others to as well. I think the potential of smartphones as scientific tools is just beginning, and this forum might be useful as an early conduit for initial explorations of this potential. Please feel free to help if you are interested.

- RJN

[saturno2]

This topic seems very interesting to me.
A smart phone should measure the blood pressure
It should inform before of an earthquakes and
A Volcanic eruption. With sensitive parameters
Before these events.
I will try to expand this list of smart phones
Applications

[saturno2]

A smartphone should turn off automatically, when
A person is very close to high voltage cables.
If the person answers a call, it will produce
A strong electric shock with negative consequences.

[saturno2]

A smartphone should detect leakage toxic gases in the chemical industry
Also it should alert at home about the presence of carbon monoxide ( CO ),
A toxic gas that has no smell.
It should alert about leakage of domestic gas ( very dangerous )

[saturno2]

For the fans of Astronomy a smartphone should indicate
The main stars that we should see in the sky according
To the coordinates of the point where we live

[KennerKenny]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[saturno2]

A smartphone should send 5 simultaneous
Messages to previosly registered people,
Just by crushing a button.
This is useful for a person in danger

[saturno2]

A smarthphone should send the sound from a video clip music to a special USB drive
(Wi Fi way) installed in a sound system
There is no better sound than high fidelity

[saturno2]

A Smartphone should be recharged only every 15 days

[geckzilla]

yup, I still think saturno2 is a weird AI/bot.

[RJN]

yup, I still think saturno2 is a weird AI/bot.

Seems plausible. But why?

[saturno2]

My country, Ecuador S.A., has serious problems with Covid-19-
The schools are closed and students receive virtual classes.
I saw a child of 7 years old receiving a virtual class on a smartphone.
A idea: A Smartphone slould to have elemental and sequential " quantums"
of knowledges- ( "quamtum", as in the Quantum Mechanic, small quantity of...)
Today´s children are more attached to the smartphones than to books.

[saturno2]

I bothers me a lot when my Smartphone runs out
of battery power.
A Smartphone should have two batteries that are
recharged in parallel, at same time, with a single plug.
But are used in serie, one after the other.
It is like having a gas reserve tank in a car.

[saturno2]

I saw a smartphone with an application
to measure levels.
There should be a smartphone model with
a laser meter for short distances, very useful
in engineering.

[Manu Kaviya]

I think smartphone must have a software to identify celestial objects in the sky. This should take place in one click only

[cwatt]

A smartphone should send 5 simultaneous
Messages to previosly registered people,
Just by crushing a button.
This is useful for a person in danger

this is a feature now!

[cwatt]

I think smartphone must have a software to identify celestial objects in the sky. This should take place in one click only

there's an app called "Sky Guide" which is great for this!

[saturno2]

House and car keys are almost always get lost
If they ( keys ) had a small device that activated
Sound from a smartphone, they would be easily
Find

[saturno2]

A few days ago I had a communication crisis.
My smarthphone, the tablet and a small phone,
For various reasons and almost at the same time,
Stopped working. I felt in the " void".
I think a smartphone should have a armored system.
The device stops working, less the ability to make and
Receive calls. Nothig more!!

[saturno2]

I met a smart watch, which works as a satellite
of a smartphone.
This watch records calls, measures blood pressure,
heart rate, even counts the daily steps of a person.
This device is very interesting and useful

[saturno2]

Scientist are doing research to produce a quantum internet of high
Speed and capacity.
They also investigate to produce high power quantum batteries
That are discharged in longer time
Possibility aplication for smartphone

[saturno2]

Dexcom is a method of measuring bood glucose
without puncturing.
It is a sensor similar to a small coin that is applied
to the arm and glucose level is read on smart devises
dexcom compatible: phone, watch or ring.
What are smart rings? They are devices that perform
the same functions as smart watchs.
The smart rings are placed on a finger like any ring.
For now, the smart rings are more expensive that
smart watchs, but they have the advantage that
the batery charge lasts several days.

[saturno2]

Metaverse is a new comunication technology.
Use a helmet or special glasses to create
a virtual hologram, wich allows you to comunicate
without a smartphone, work without a computer,
and hold a meeting of people, where a virtual
reality is shared instead of a physical one.
Some technicians say that the Metaverse will
complety replace the smartphone.
A think that not, not totally.
A high-speed and high-resolution smartphone,
whose operating algoritms are very simplified,
very light in weight, and whose battery recharge
last a long time, may be a valid alternative
in the future.

[saturno2]

I recently bought a normal smartphone from an unknown
brand. It has an important quality.
When it is charging and reaches 100% charge, it has an internal switch that cuts off the power coming from the transformer.
I can leave the charger connected all night and nothing happens.

[saturno2]

A world-known brand that manufactures
smartphones, released a mid-range model
that weights only 166.8. Grams
I knew that model of mobile device and it is
light weight caught my attention.
I think that a smartphone should be very light