The majority of accessories for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch use Apple’s proprietary dock connector. This means that hardware manufacturers have to pay Apple a license fee to make products using the dock connector.
We have already seen accessories that use the 3.5mm audio jack on the iPhone, like the Square payment system. Now, some students at the University of Michigan have created a new accessory for the iPhone that uses the 3.5mm audio jack.
Innovative Use of the 3.5mm Audio Jack
The accessory costs just $2.34 in electronic parts and includes a working EKG, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and some motion sensors. These sensors can all communicate with a custom iOS app. This innovative approach opens up a world of possibilities for developers and users alike. By utilizing the 3.5mm audio jack, the students have bypassed the need for the expensive dock connector, making it more accessible for hobbyists and small-scale developers.
The project, named “Project HiJack,” demonstrates the potential for low-cost, versatile accessories that can be easily integrated with iOS devices. The use of the 3.5mm audio jack is particularly clever because it is a standard feature on many devices, not just Apple products. This means that the technology could potentially be adapted for use with other smartphones and tablets, broadening its applicability.
Potential Applications and Future Developments
The sensors included in the Project HiJack accessory have a wide range of potential applications. For example, the EKG sensor could be used for health monitoring, allowing users to track their heart rate and other vital signs. The temperature and humidity sensors could be used in environmental monitoring applications, such as tracking weather conditions or monitoring the climate in a greenhouse. The motion sensors could be used in a variety of applications, from fitness tracking to gaming.
The students have also created a custom iOS app to interface with the sensors. This app allows users to view data from the sensors in real-time, providing a powerful tool for both developers and end-users. The app could be expanded to include additional features, such as data logging and analysis, making it even more useful.
One of the most exciting aspects of Project HiJack is the potential for community involvement. By releasing the source code, the students could enable other developers to create their own accessories using the 3.5mm audio jack. This could lead to a wide range of new and innovative products, from simple sensors to complex systems.
Hopefully, the students will release the source code so that we can see some other cool accessories using the iPhone’s 3.5mm audio jack instead of the dock connector.
The success of Project HiJack could inspire other developers to explore alternative ways of connecting accessories to iOS devices. By thinking outside the box and utilizing existing hardware features, developers can create innovative products without the need for expensive licensing fees. This could lead to a more diverse and vibrant ecosystem of accessories for iOS devices, benefiting both developers and users.
via Ubergizmo
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