One of our most popular devices in 2011 was without a doubt the TMP006, the industry's first monolithic passive infrared MEMS temperature sensor with integrated signal conditioning and data acquisition. The device is a ridiculous 95% smaller than all competitive solutions currently on the market, and creates an even wider realm of possibilities for use in consumer electronics, particularly mobile phones. It's also been selected as a 2012 Innovations Honoree by the folks in charge of CES. Customers and designers are already hard at work taking advantage of the device and finding new and innovative ways to use it, and with that in mind, here are some of our more "out there" ideas we'd love to see happen. And of course, they're CES related.
1. The Bluff Detector - Odds are (no pun intended), most folks going to CES will be hitting up the casino at some point during the week. And as we all know, that's a good way to lose a lot of your money. But, say you're playing Texas Hold 'Em with one of the guys who thinks he's on the World Series of Poker. You know the type: sunglasses, cocktail in hand, constantly playing with his chips until they make a noise so loud you just want to punch him. With the Bluff Detector, you can aim your phone at his head and detect those slight changes in body temperature that come when he's bluffing about his hand and getting nervous. Then, you can take all his chips for yourself, and if he still wants to play, you can take those sunglasses too.
2. Sushi Safety - It's Vegas, so you know you're gonna hit up a buffet or two when you get the time. And what's more appealing at a buffet than all the sushi you can shove down your gullet, since you've already paid the one-fits-all price for the meal? Just be careful, because those bad boys need to be kept nice and chilly, lest your trip take a turn for the worse (trust me, I know). With Sushi Safety you can monitor the temperature of those little fishies before you put them on your plate.
3. Customer Was Here - With all the folks at CES, and all the meetings that will be taking place, there's always a possibility that somebody will leave the meeting room and forget to take their notebook/recorder/odds book with them. Just fire up the Customer Was Here app and track the person down by following the heat signatures left by their footprints as they left the room.
4. Hot or Not Slot - Based on your own personal views of when to hit up a slot machine, be it after somebody's played there for a while and not won anything, or at a machine that's gone woefully unused all night, the Hot or Not Slot app can help you choose. Point your phone at the chair in front of the machine, and based on the temperature of that seat (hot if it's been used often, cold if nobody cares) decide whether or not you want to try your hand at it. My personal favorite: Goldfish 2.
These are just a sampling of the fun and innovative things the TMP006 can help you do. While the above may or may not be tongue-in-cheek, the device truly is one of the most innovative we've ever created, and we're excited to see all the great things you brilliant designers can come up with.
To learn more about TI's temperature sensors, go here, and we hope to see you in Suite 464 of the Las Vegas Hilton next week at CES!