Turn Your Smartphone/Tablets into a Radiation Detector

Radiation in our environment comes from both natural and man-made sources. In addition, mining and other commercial activities can disturb naturally-occurring radioactive materials by uncovering them. This can lead to direct exposure of individuals to radioactivity. The Pocket Geiger is an accessory for the Apple iOS or Android device, which works with an accompanying, free downloadable App. The free App, called "Pocket Geiger”, can be downloaded from the App Store for iPhone/iPod/iPad, and from the Google Play for any Android device.  To use the Pocket Geiger, you connect it to your Smartphone audio output, load the app, and let it use its photodiode sensors to detect nearby radiation. Click here to see the video demonstration. In this way, you can know whether or not you are in a safe area. The level of radiation is expressed as an amount of radiation in Sievert (Sv) per hour of exposure. Average individual background radiation dose for Americans is 0.34 μSv/h.

Pocket Geiger has three models-Type 2, Type 3 and Type 4. Type 2 or type 4, the power is supplied by the iPhone headphone output, no battery is needed.  However, Type 2 and Type 4 do NOT support Apple iOS devices sold in Europe.  This is because, under EU regulation, the headphone output may not exceed 100dB to prevent hearing damages. This limited audio output is not enough to power the Type 2 and 4 detectors. Type 4 is the next generation of Type 2 for Apple iOS device only with Ultra High Sensitivity. The measuring time needed for a stable reading for Type 4 has been reduced from 15 minutes to 2 minutes. Type 3 works for both Apple iOS and Android devices and the power is supplied by a 9V external battery. Therefore, please order Type 3 if you have Android device, or if you have Apple iOS device and you are going to use them in Europe.

Radiation is colorless, odorless and tasteless. It is impossible to tell whether you are being exposed and, if so, to how much, unless you have a Geiger counter or similar device. We believe that everyone should have the right to know the correct radiation level in a given location. Right now a mother or father has no way of making sure whether the park nearby is safe for her or his child to play. In the past, it was hard to get a Geiger counter even if we wanted one, costing hundreds of dollars to buy. Because of this, Radiation-watch.org has developed a survey meter that is both reliable and affordable.

Pocket Geiger receives the honor of RedDot Design Award, which is an international product design prize awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. There are prize categories for product design, design agencies, and design concepts. Since 1955, designers and producers can apply for the prizes with the winners being presented in an annual ceremony. Winning products are presented in the Red Dot Design Museum on the premises of the historical Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen. The Red Dot Design Award has more than 11,000 submissions from 61 countries.