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The answer is blowin' in the wind, thanks to Vaavud's smartphone accessory and app

posted by Alan F. / Mar 23, 2014, 10:00 PM

The answer is blowin' in the wind, thanks to Vaavud's smartphone accessory and app

Vaavud has taken its funding needs from a successful Kickstarter campaign, to a group of angel investors that put $375,000 into the company. Vaavud uses a smartphone, an app, and a rather low-tech meter (made with two pieces of plastic) to measure wind speed, direction, and more information that can be discovered by tracking which way the wind blows.

The meter itself fits into the 3.5mm earphone jack on a smartphone. The sound from the wind is picked up using the earphone jack, and converted into a windspeed measurement using the app. The app analyzes and collects the data, giving Vaavud readings from the wind around the world. The company is receiving 4000 new measurements per week which is quite a feat considering that it is relying on consumers buying the meter for $50 a pop.

The meter works with the Apple iPhone 4, Apple iPhone 4s, Apple iPhone 5, Apple iPhone 5c and Apple iPhone 5s. It also is supported by the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy S4, Nexus 5 and the HTC One. An algorithm designed by the company even allows indoor readings to be eliminated, and can also tell when someone blows on the meter to create false readings.

Is anyone interested in wind measurements? You bet they are. Agricultural giant Lantmännen Maskin AB is partners with Vaavud on a project to measure wind speed in Sweden to keep a close eye on crops that are using pesticide. The country has strict new regulations on using the poison with certain crops that are digested by humans.

The combination of low and high tech just might teach us a thing or two about the wind, and could help develop technology in the future that improves our lives.

The Vaavud wind meter is $50 a pop

source: Vaaud via TechCrunch

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15 Comments

1. fzacek

Posts: 2486; Member since: Jan 26, 2014

I was just thinking about something like this for my RC aircraft earlier in the day.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:03 PM 0

2. SAO101789

Posts: 123; Member since: Feb 10, 2014

It would be better it if it was able to charge your phone in less than 10 years our phones will charge itself c:

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:04 PM 2

3. Lt.Green

Posts: 397; Member since: Mar 13, 2014

Looks like a Mickey Mouse hat for your phone.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:06 PM 1

4. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

This is actually pretty awesome. Not super useful for the average person, but awesome nonetheless. I hope it gets funded.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:13 PM 0

6. Sauce unregistered

This is pretty cool. This will be useful for my friends who fly RC planes. In other news, iPhone 5c OUTSELLS all Android, BB, and Windows phones during winter quarter..... OUCH.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:32 PM 2

7. hurrycanger

Posts: 1759; Member since: Dec 01, 2013

Yeah, that other news was a little surprise for me today, lol.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:38 PM 0

8. Sauce unregistered

Me too, a big surprise lol, which is why I posted that. U.S. Sales: iPhone 5c (the 5crap everyone talks about): 12.8 million Galaxy S4 (still one of the best) 9 million ALL of Nokia: 8.2 million ALL of Windows Phones (Globally): *around* 8.2 million All Blackberry (whats BB anymore?): 6 million (still surprising) People say that more sales don't mean anything. They kinda do.. it's common sense. Yes, each phone attracts taste to certain individuals, but it is the most sold phones that attract the most individuals.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:46 PM 2

14. g2a5b0e unregistered

Not sure where you got your numbers, Sauce, but I can't see how they are even remotely true. http://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-iPhone-5s-still-ringing-up-sales-say-Wall-Street-firms_id53532#2-33-of-those-surveyed-plan-on-buying-an-Apple-iPhone-5s No numbers for December in this chart, but the S4 has outsold the 5c at all 4 major carriers every month since November. In fact, October was the only month the 5c sold more & that was only with AT&T. What you're saying is simply not possible.

posted on Mar 24, 2014, 3:01 AM 0

15. g2a5b0e unregistered

I found the article where you got your numbers. Something doesn't add up.

posted on Mar 24, 2014, 3:10 AM 0

9. xperiaDROID

Posts: 5629; Member since: Mar 08, 2013

If that news is only based on one country which it's only the US then it's nothing to brag about; if it's based on worldwide, then it's a breaking news.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:49 PM 1

10. Sauce unregistered

Yes true, but it is still a good news piece because of how large the smartphone industry is in the states.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:52 PM 0

11. xperiaDROID

What's weird is that the iPhone 5c didn't gain much sales in countries outside US, I think it's because of the expensive price for such phone when there are much better phones out there (even the iPhone 5). So, did you tip that news to PA?

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 10:58 PM 0

12. Sauce unregistered

Yea exactly, I was thinking this exact thing, China in particular.

posted on Mar 23, 2014, 11:05 PM 0

13. hurrycanger

I guess it cannot make it worldwide because the carrier subsidize system in the US is not available widely elsewhere. I see a lot of people being like "It costs only half the 5S." -_-