Programs that allow you to measure objects have existed for several years; they use different approaches to the problem and, as a rule, are not particularly accurate. New staff iOS app 12 - is a simple but effective roulette.
This system became a reality thanks to the use of augmented reality AR Kit, an improved, second version. The program we are interested in is compatible with iPhone 6s, iPhone SE and newer models.
After launching the program and selecting a roulette, the user just needs to point the smartphone camera at the object under study and rotate it a little. Using the camera viewfinder, you create virtual marks, based on which the calculation will be made. After a successful measurement, you can click on “+” and move, for example, to the next face. After this, the program will be able, if necessary, to independently calculate the area of the object of interest to us. The lower right button will save the measurement results, the left one will do a complete reset.
For obvious reasons, virtual tape measure is suitable for measuring small objects, it does not matter whether they are simple in shape or have numerous curves. Considering how strange this method is in itself, all measurements can be called quite accurate. Especially if the user took the matter seriously: he took care of good lighting and calibrated the tape measure.
The level has been moved to the same application. And if everything is complicated with a roulette, then this tool does not fail, it is used in everyday life much more often, and there is nothing special to talk about its functionality. Just remember that now you need to look for it in “Roulette”, and not in “Compass”, as before.
iPhone is still considered one of the most revolutionary Apple products of the last decade, which is not surprising. Refusal of the stylus, chic interface, capacitive touch display, protective glass instead of plastic and accelerometer. The last component in portable device generally seemed like some kind of magic and was quickly mastered by both game and application developers. Quite a few “virtual tools” have appeared that allow, for example, washing machine or a refrigerator according to the level in the iPhone. But this is easy to implement programmatically. How about turning your smartphone into a kind of tape measure for measuring length or a device for measuring angles? Yes, yes, it’s a full-fledged instrument, and not a trinket toy with an image of a protractor or ruler on the screen. This is what I propose to do in this article, and a very extraordinary application will help us Flying Ruler.
When we need to measure something accurately, we take a ruler or tape measure and measure. Sometimes situations arise that there are no such accessories nearby, and the search for alternatives begins, taking measurements in steps, using your fingers by eye, or something else. Need, as they say, is cunning in inventions. But all these are inconvenient half measures. The situation is even worse if you need to accurately determine the angle between two planes. Here, in principle, you can’t get by with a ruler; you need a special tool. Now let's remember what item we carry with us almost constantly? That's right - a smartphone! This means that to solve the problem you need a clever application that can replace a tape measure and an angle meter. While in App Store there is only one such thing - Flying Ruler.
To be honest, while studying the description of the program and even while watching the demo video, I had serious doubts that everything shown and written actually works. Just look at it for yourself, it looks like magic:
However, when I conducted my own tests, as they say, with passion, I was personally convinced - the program really works! There are some peculiarities, but first things first.
When you first launch the application, it offers to calibrate, which is not difficult - go to the options menu by clicking on the corresponding gear icon, and in it the items that you need to point your finger are literally highlighted in red. The process is accompanied by hints about what you liked:
During main calibration You just need to place your iPhone on a flat surface, click “Start” and wait a little. Advanced Calibration involves measuring the condition of the phone in several positions, but all this is done within seconds and is not annoying.
Since you’re immediately in the options, pay attention to the ability to select units of measurement - centimeters or inches, as well as set the thickness of the case, if one is on the phone. The fact is that the program has a mode when measurements are made according to the dimensions of the phone, that is, the starting point of reference is the top edge of the device, the final point is the bottom. With a case, the physical dimensions of the iPhone are naturally a little larger.
After fiddling around with the options and calibration, I decided to take my first measurement, and this is where difficulties arose. The fact is that even with a basic hint, it is not immediately possible to understand exactly how to use the program.
That is, before starting to work with Flying Ruler, it is very advisable to read the built-in help. True, it does not inspire enthusiasm and in its appearance resembles web pages of the 90s and the times of the dot-com boom.
There are three options for determining the measurement: using a virtual ruler, according to the dimensions of the smartphone (which I mentioned above) and again according to the dimensions, but you need to apply the device with the screen or back to the surface.
I had questions about the first option and the second. The third one was easy to figure out. For example, you need to measure the distance between walls or bedside tables: place the phone on one, click on the central button, wait until it turns red, then smoothly move the device in a straight line to the opposite wall and place it with the screen (you can also use the back, but for accuracy it’s better not to twist the iPhone in the air while we move it from wall to wall), wait for the signal (a nasty, but clearly audible squeak) and look at the result:
In the screenshot above the average result is displayed in yellow, below it is the number of measurements, and the blue numbers on the left indicate the result of the last measurement. As practice has shown, 3–4 measurements are enough for a fairly accurate average result. The error usually does not exceed 2–4%.
But what I didn’t immediately understand about the virtual ruler was the principle of operation itself this method. I note that the value of the initial reference point (red zero) can be moved along the ruler to the left or right - I also did not immediately notice this point. So, the method works as follows: we place the reference point where it is convenient on the ruler, place the phone near the surface being measured, click on the central button, wait until it turns red, carefully take the gadget and, without twisting it, in the same position move it along the measured object to the desired places, after which we lower it so that the end point is opposite the screen with the ruler. Literally within a second the device will beep, then point your finger at the virtual ruler opposite the end point of measurement and the program will display the result. Then you can click on the central button again to start re-measuring - repeat the action 2-3 more times:
I easily photographed the object being measured right inside the program and indicated what exactly was being measured - this is a useful and very convenient feature, especially if there are a lot of measurements:
The blue arrow indicates the measurement location
The second method of measuring the dimensions of the phone is the simplest, but from the icon I didn’t immediately understand what it meant and how it worked, although I figured it out a little later. Let's say I need to measure the width of a MacBook: I put the phone in front of it so that it does not protrude beyond the body, click on the central button, wait until it turns red, then in the same position I move the phone to the second edge of the laptop case so that it does not protrude beyond its limits, I lower it and wait for the result. Then, without moving the phone, I click on the center button again and repeat the process, moving the phone in the opposite direction, and so on a couple of times to get the average value. It seems like a lot of letters are written, but in reality everything is simple: attached → click → carefully moved the phone to the endpoint → got the result.
I suggest you look at everything described above live:
The second main function of Flying Ruler is angle measurement, and it has two operating modes.
The first one I called for myself “ protractor" It allows you to measure an angle on one plane. Actually, we did the same thing at school using that same protractor. The operating scheme is identical to that described above. We place the device on a flat surface, click on the central button, it turns red, turn the phone around to measure the desired angle and get the result.
But the second mode is much more interesting, allowing you to measure the angle between two planes. In this case, the work scheme is slightly different. You need to click on the central button to start the measurement process even before you place the phone on the first plane. It looks like this: phone in hand - click on the central button → touch it to the first surface → the button turns red → touch it to the second surface → get the result.
As with length measurements, angle measurements can also be saved by taking a photo of the object and marking the area to be measured.
When the ARKit platform first released with iOS 11, there were a ton of measurement apps available for it. Applications for drawing up diagrams of rooms, applications for measuring objects or simply distances from one point to another, and some other applications. However, none of them met Apple's standards, so the company added own application Roulette (Measure), which will be automatically installed along with new version systems.
How enjoy applicationRoulette
Step 1: Find the application Roulette via search Spotlight or on the home screen.
Step 2: Make sure the tab is open Roulette.
Step 3: The app will prompt you to move your iPhone to start. Move your smartphone so that the application roughly understands where you are.
Step 4: Now point your iPhone at the measurement reference point. When you reach the correct angle, you will feel a vibration.
Step 5: To start measuring, click on the round snapshot button at the bottom of the screen.
Step 6: Now move the smartphone to the next point where the measurements will end. When you reach it, press the button again.
Step 7: You will see how a line with the resulting measurement instantly appears between the points. Click on a number to open it completely.
Step 8: You can continue measuring. You can measure rectangles and even three-dimensional objects.
Step 9: At each reference point, do not forget to press the snapshot button.
How much measures accuratelyapplicationRoulette?
Apple does not claim that the app's measurements are as accurate as possible. Even the measurement box states that the number is approximate. But how accurate are the measurements really? In theory, they should be 90% accurate, but in reality this number sometimes reaches 30%.
The new feature will not replace real measurements if you are a builder. But, if you quickly need to find out the width of a chair or the height of a lamp, then the Measure app will help you with this.
If you thought that the application, like the Terminator's eye, will show the sizes of all objects at which you point the camera, you will have to be disappointed: VisualRuler cannot do without your help. The application works on the principle of comparison and determines the sizes of unknown objects based on known ones. The sample is a regular credit card, the size of which is standard and the same throughout the world. Here's how it works.
To find out the size of objects in a photo, you need to place a map next to them, then more accurately adjust its boundaries using a rectangle and measure the objects in the photo in the same way.
The measurement accuracy is generally good. According to VisualRuler, my 13-in. MacBook Air is 30.08 × 20.3 cm, which is not far from the truth (30 × 19.2 cm). Ruler and iPad Air The app also measured relatively accurately. But in general, of course, the reliability of measurements largely depends on how carefully you calibrate reference size maps, and how well you can take the photo. VisualRuler can only measure 2D objects, so perspective distortions are not taken into account in any way and will give an additional error.
Another drawback follows from this limitation: you can only measure the length and width, but not the height of objects. In addition, the size of the objects themselves matters. It is unlikely that it will be possible to accurately measure anything larger than a laptop, since the credit card in the photo will be too small and its size will be determined with an error.
The idea and implementation of the application are not bad, but the developers obviously overdid it with the price. If it cost 75 or at least 149 rubles, there would probably be more people wanting to turn their iPhone into a roulette.
Reading time: 3 minutes.
Tape measures that easily measure the space around you first appeared on iPhone and iPad with the release of version 11 operating system iOS, where Apple developers have implemented the ARKit platform, which uses augmented reality to interact with the world through the camera of a smartphone or tablet. The release became a long-awaited discovery in the world modern technologies, and therefore experiments in the AR genre appeared immediately.
Some developers imagined arcade games using tabletops and floors, others invented military-tactical strategies and city-planning simulators, and others focused on things that could help with housework. And we are, of course, talking about roulette applications:
Roulette
A classic application presented by Apple along with the release of iOS 12 (yes, after the advent of ARKit, famous developers took a long time to gather their courage, but still decided!). One of the advantages is measuring height and length without interruptions for advertising and notifications; light weight of 600 kilobytes; assistance in obtaining the dimensions of objects in the floor automatic mode(if you point the camera at an object that fits completely into the lens, the geometric parameters will be calculated automatically - without additional actions on the part of iPhone or iPad owners).
Another unexpected feature is sharing measurements with friends and family via messages, AirDrop or Email. To transfer information, you will have to save the calculations, attach a photo and explain the situation. By the way, Apple developers have already proven the accuracy of the Roulette application, and therefore it’s time to move on to new testing!
AR Ruler Cam
The iPhone program is a well-known representative of the genre, which appeared immediately after the release of ARKit. Among the advantages - free access with a minimum amount of advertising (promotional videos are displayed 2-3 times in 15-20 minutes), support for several methods of taking measurements (macro and micro photography), the ability to use the built-in graphics editor for processing photographs or measuring objects captured on camera.
Additionally, the developers took care of calculating length, distance, height, angles, areas in meters, centimeters and even inches (for additional accuracy, no one bothers to use the built-in calculator, which helps to make a certain mathematical forecast based on available calculations).
Working with AR Ruler Cam is easy - you just need to click on the screen at those points that are considered the beginning of the measured segment. Two seconds and the approximate result has already been calculated.
AirMeasure
Paid application, a multifunctional assistant that expands the modest ideas of competitors to some unattainable scale. Firstly, developers from Laan Labs offer to change the space using a tape measure, and then automatically generate a two-dimensional and three-dimensional floor plan with an accuracy of a centimeter.
Secondly, in the application you can live measure facial features (nose, mouth, eyes), length of limbs and height of the person in the frame. Not cool enough? How about designing a face in a separate graphic file? No one is capable of this yet!
And finally, the developers have provided a separate function that helps interact with the interior of rooms and apartments. Can be hung on real walls virtual wallpaper and paintings, try on chandeliers for the ceiling, and laminate or linoleum for the floor. Never before has it been so easy to think through the aesthetics of a room!
By the way, immediately after payment (75 rubles), you can safely forget about advertising!
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