At CES 2017, we're taking a look at the
new H2 from China's Changhong, a phone with a sensor that's able to optically
scan objects and tell you what they're made of.
The technology we're talking about is near-infrared spectroscopy,
a technique that shines a light on an object and analyzes how that light
changes as a result. The unique optical signature can then be processed to
figure out what things are made of on a molecular level. It sounds all sorts of
crazy advanced, we know, but we already use similar optical-scanning tech on
phones today: just look at how Samsung's Galaxy flagships not only use light to
track users' heart rates, but also measure blood oxygen content.
OK, so the phone can tell what things are made of.
So what? Well, take food for instance: nutrition labels are well and good, but
with with a portable spectrometer you can scan any food you come across –
packaged or not – and gain useful information about its composition. A diabetic
might use a tool like this to evaluate what impact a possible snack might have
on blood sugar levels, or you could scan fruit at the grocery store to
custom-pick the sweetest, most delicious apples.
And just like the optical heart-rate scanner on
existing phones, a spectrometer can tell you about your own body, too. You
might use the H2 to keep an eye on your body fat levels while you work your way
through an exercise regimen.
We also took a look at apps that can be used to tell
genuine materials apart from fakes; the one we got to see at Changhong's CES
booth distinguishes prescription medications from counterfeits, but you could
just as easily use it when shopping for jewelry to tell a real diamond from a
cubic zirconia.
Really, the potential of this technology is only limited
by the imagination of developers. Maybe an environmental group will come up an
app to help you sort your recyclables: a quick scan could tell you what's trash
from what can be reused. Or maybe an app could scan your clothing and give you
tips for doing your laundry – don't want to mistake that wool sweater for an
acrylic one and end up shrinking it.
The H2 may sound like exactly the sort of high-tech
prototype gadget that only comes out at expos like CES, and has slim to no
chance of actually becoming a real, commercially available product – but that's
not at all the case here. Sales of the Changhong H2 are getting started in
China early this year, and better still, it's looking good that we're
eventually going to see the H2 make its way to the United States sometime this
fall.
There are still lots of details to work out
concerning exactly how that might happen, and under what branding the phone
will arrive in the West, but we're still all sorts of excited to learn that
it's in the works. And with pricing in China that comes out to the equivalent
of the mid-US$ 400 range, picking up this sci-fi sensor tech in a smartphone could
prove to be surprisingly affordable.