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Home > Smart Living> Innovation > This smartphone app is a convenient, digital measuring tool

This smartphone app is a convenient, digital measuring tool

Google Measure uses augmented reality and your phone's camera to quickly gauge the size of real-world objects

Google Measure uses augmented reality (AR) to help you measure real-world objects.
Google Measure uses augmented reality (AR) to help you measure real-world objects. (Daniel Romero/Unsplash)

Among the other things your modern smartphone can do, it can also be a digital measuring tape. Right on top is the Google Measure app. Using augmented reality (AR), this app helps you measure real-world objects. Here’s how. When you open the app, Measure asks you to move the phone from left to right, to calibrate and scan for flat surfaces. Then you simply point your camera towards the object that needs to be measured.

Once you start the measurement process, you’ll notice a virtual line extending as you move the camera’s focus from one measuring point to another. Once you have fixed both the points, you can adjust them to get an accurate measurement. The app also allows you to click a picture of the object being measured along with the virtual line and measurement superimposed on it.

Once you start the measurement process, you’ll notice a virtual line extending as you move the camera’s focus from one measuring point to another.
Once you start the measurement process, you’ll notice a virtual line extending as you move the camera’s focus from one measuring point to another.

Google Measure also lets you switch between imperial and metric units — metres, feet and inches. You can even copy the measurements directly from the app on to the clipboard and use it accordingly. The app works best in well-lit conditions. During my quick review, it was prone to crashes, but not frequently. In the Android ecosystem, you can even look at the app Moasure, as an alternative. Moasure works as a tape measure, ruler, protractor and a goniometer (an angle measurer) - all in one simple app.

Users on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch can use the iOS Measure app, which performs similar functions. iOS Measure enables you to quickly gauge the size of real objects, a person’s height, and the app can automatically provide the dimensions of rectangular objects. Do remember that all these apps will only work with devices that are AR-compatible.

Category: Tools & utilities

Ratings: Google Play Store: 3 stars; App Store: N/A

You could also look at: Moasure, AR Ruler app

Thumb Rule is a series looks at an app a week to keep you on track

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