Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Sugar and spice and unfettered insensibility.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                     

Cellphone periscope

Use Flip-phone Camera and Screen to see around corners
  (+18)(+18)
(+18)
  [vote for,
against]

Many cellphones these days have video cameras built in, consisting of a fixed-focus lens on the outside and a moderately readable viewing screen on the inside.

It wouldn't take much to make these parts extendable to function as a periscope to see around corners without exposing oneself directly to unknown firepower that may be lurking.

csea, Jun 14 2010

Kind of like... http://www.maplin.c...mages/full/rm36.jpg
... but with camera and video... ? [Jinbish, Jun 14 2010]

I always thought this would come in handy http://qik.com/video/live
[DenholmRicshaw, Jun 14 2010]

Marketing Map http://www.globalconflictmap.com/
Current cities in which to market the [csea] cellphone periscope. Primary emphasis on cities marked by a red pointer. [jurist, Jun 15 2010]

Big In Japan http://s0.ilike.com...04a9dbdc61963ba8b37
[normzone, Jul 05 2010]

OptiEyes http://gizmodo.com/...s-of-being-arrested
Neat ! [8th of 7, Jul 06 2010]

[link]






       You expect these to be big sellers in Belfast and Kabul? (Actually, I like the idea of the camera lens mounted on an extendible stalk, but don't find the rationale compelling.)
jurist, Jun 14 2010
  

       How about using two phones; one at each end of a stick.   

       One could be using Qik Live (see link) and the other could be viewing it.
DenholmRicshaw, Jun 14 2010
  

       Why would they be big sellers in Belfast? Kabul I understand, but Belfast is now one of the safest cities in Europe and has the lowest violent crime stats of any large city in the UK.
xenzag, Jun 14 2010
  

       Probably due to the propensity of people there to look around corners?
rcarty, Jun 14 2010
  

       Useful for many types of home or auto repair tasks. [+]
swimswim, Jun 14 2010
  

       Hard to believe they don't have these already.
A pull out endoscopic lens could come in handy too.
  

       Just what I need for my clandestine sub warfare campaign.
Letsbuildafort, Jun 15 2010
  

       + most excellent idea.
xandram, Jun 15 2010
  

       freaking genius
theircompetitor, Jun 19 2010
  

       Only Americans use flip-phones. Everywhere else they're considered vulgar and passé, and of course make you look like an American (which is the same thing)
xenzag, Jun 19 2010
  

       I use the term "unknown firepower" advisedly, perhaps innocently meaning someone one wishes to see but whom one doesn't wish to see one at present.
csea, Jul 04 2010
  

       //Only Americans use flip-phones//
I hear they're still big in Japan.
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Jul 04 2010
  

       Using Bluetooth, a small, fully automomous camera could be used, with accessories like a telescopic rod. mini tripod, suction cup mount.   

       [+]
8th of 7, Jul 06 2010
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle