Thermal Imaging: In the Hands of Consumers

You might have already known that a thermal imaging camera is a technology used by the police to detect criminals, by fire fighters to see areas of heat through smoke or darkness, or perhaps for hot spotting the cricket ball in the ashes. However you probably didn’€™t ever think that this was a technology you would ever be able to use with your own smart phone.

After two years of designing, FLIR systems have recently introduced two new products that put thermal imaging into the hands of consumers. The FLIR One is a product specific for the Apple iPhone 5/5s, and is an iPhone case which converts the phone into a thermal imaging camera after the owner has downloaded the corresponding app. The second is a consumer-level infrared thermal camera sensor.

So how will thermal imaging benefit you as a consumer? You might be surprised at how many uses this technology has. Whether you want to use it for night navigation because you’re always losing your pet dog in the middle of the night and wandering around in darkness or if you enjoy observing wildlife at night time, the thermal imaging camera on your phone will allow you to see things in pitch black. Being able to see things in the dark isn’€™t the only good feature of the thermal imaging technology, it can also help to detect where any energy may be leaking from your house, which is a great way to help household’€™s to become more energy efficient and encourage them to implement a greener lifestyle.

What’€™s more, being able to detect where any heat is lost is particularly helpful because there has been a recent dramatic increase in energy prices, and therefore households are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills as much as possible. People will be able to use the thermal imaging technology, see where they are losing heat and therefore come up with solutions that will not only be kind on their wallets but also our environment.

The added bonus is, rather than spending a fortune on a thermal imaging camera, the FLIR One will be rolled out worldwide in the coming months with a price point of around $350 and will be available in grey, white or gold. So for a reasonable price you get a smart phone case and thermal imaging technology rolled into one. And, don’€™t worry, if you don’€™t have an iPhone 5/5s and want the thermal imaging technology in your hands, you won’t have to wait long because an Android model is expected to be released later in the year.