iPhone Physics

[Von Drunky]

Hey everyone,

I have a neat 10 minute presentation due on Thursday in my watered down physics class. Since the iPone seems to be one of the new hot products I decided that it should be the topic of my presentation. So basically I need to target the physics behind its key features. I do not own one so I am hoping someone here will suggest just what features should be focused on for the presentation or more importantly if someone actually knows the physics behind it and are willing to share their knowledge. Also I don’t care much for cracking methods at this point and time so lets omit them for the moment.

Here is something to get the ball rolling:
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_physics_of_iphone.php

 

[xdarkyrex]

I suggest going over the multitouch, and pr, since theyre the only two real selling points.

 

[Wooz]

You're presenting a... hyped up cell phone in a Physics class?

What's the Amazing Physics behind the touch-screen? Technology that's been around since the first keyboard, in which a component reacts to the user's touch?

 

[Von Drunky]

You're presenting a... hyped up cell phone in a Physics class?

What's the Amazing Physics behind the touch-screen? Technology that's been around since the first keyboard, in which a component reacts to the user's touch?

Your over simplifying it, I'm sure that its more then just a hyped up media player/phone. I messed around with one briefly its defiantly a fun toy which could actually be quite useful at times, the GPS feature is pretty cool, internet (I know the new iPod uses Wi-Fi which in most cases you don’t pay extra for) and most importantly it plays music. I thought ipods were crap when they came out I had an mp3 cd player at the time, then I finally cracked when the ipod video came out and it was the best thing ever. My physics professor actually liked the idea along with some Asian tramps in my class, idk something about lack of frication?

Whatever does anyone here own one?

 

[KQX]

some Asian tramps in my class

Mmmmm, *drool*

Talk about the 3-axis accelerometer. That's what changes the screen in accordance to the phone's orientation (vertical vs horizontal)

 

[Kyuu]

Aye, the use of accelerometers are they only bit of physics I could imagine talking much about with regards to the iPhone.

People have done some fun stuff with the iPhone's accelerometers, as seen here.

 

[slamelov]

Talk about physics in videogames and not about an expensive and hyped mobile phone. Simulators like IL2, X-PLane, Live for Speed, rFactor, etc.

 

[xdarkyrex]

You're presenting a... hyped up cell phone in a Physics class?

What's the Amazing Physics behind the touch-screen? Technology that's been around since the first keyboard, in which a component reacts to the user's touch?

multi touch hasn't been around that long though, and its previously been very inaccurate and slow.

 

[Wooz]

I'm talking about the revolutionary physics involved in pressing buttons, not about multi-touch.

 

[zioburosky13]

Use the i-phone as the bullet to demonstrate a coil-gun

 

[SimpleMinded]

isn't the iPhone super scratch resistant? Is there any neat physics in that?

 

[Von Drunky]

some Asian tramps in my class

Mmmmm, *drool*

Talk about the 3-axis accelerometer. That's what changes the screen in accordance to the phone's orientation (vertical vs horizontal)

Aye, the use of accelerometers are they only bit of physics I could imagine talking much about with regards to the iPhone.

People have done some fun stuff with the iPhone's accelerometers, as seen here.

Thanks this was a very useful tip and the video is something I can use in class as part of my PowerPoint. I’ll be sure to post the slides here when its done.

Talk about physics in videogames and not about an expensive and hyped mobile phone. Simulators like IL2, X-PLane, Live for Speed, rFactor, etc.

I was thinking about doing it on videogames, like talk about the Wii or just physics in simulators like you suggested but this will have a bigger appeal to my professor and classmates.

]

 

[generalissimofurioso]

How much force does it take to crush an Apple iPhone?

Show your work and put it in foot-pounds!

 

[SuAside]

do like UserFriendly and accelerate the Iphone to terminal velocity using the Portal gun. and then open exit portal in front of Jobs' face.

now that's fun physics.

 

[Von Drunky]

portal gun, coil gun what are you two jabbering about?

 

[SL¥DE]

Demonstrate the potential energy of the amount of bullcrap you were fed to think that buying that hunkajunk was a good idea.

 

[Von Drunky]

Demonstrate the potential energy of the amount of bullcrap you were fed to think that buying that hunkajunk was a good idea.

This has nothing to do with the purchase of an iphone. This is for my PHYSICS class not my MARKETING class. It is completely irrelevant whether or not the iphone is a "hunkaJunk" I’m just trying to find out how it works, and that’s it.

 

[radnan]

to the OP

prolly more info on wikipedia or just ..uhm .. google.

i find the device you picked also most annoying - alltho not totally innappropriate simply because its more an excercise in marketing pseudo-modernism and plain biggotry obviously i dont like apple very much

 

[Maphusio]

You're presenting a... hyped up cell phone in a Physics class?

What's the Amazing Physics behind the touch-screen? Technology that's been around since the first keyboard, in which a component reacts to the user's touch?

Your over simplifying it, I'm sure that its more then just a hyped up media player/phone. I messed around with one briefly its defiantly a fun toy which could actually be quite useful at times, the GPS feature is pretty cool, internet (I know the new iPod uses Wi-Fi which in most cases you don’t pay extra for) and most importantly it plays music. I thought ipods were crap when they came out I had an mp3 cd player at the time, then I finally cracked when the ipod video came out and it was the best thing ever. My physics professor actually liked the idea along with some Asian tramps in my class, idk something about lack of frication?

Whatever does anyone here own one?

So... Were the attractive Asian tramps orrrr???


There have been some great suggestions above. I think there are allot of simple innovations the iPhone possesses such as telephone numbers are now simply links. Were I to disclose my phone number in an e-mail to someone, they simply click the phone number in my e-mail and the phone dials it.

Small features like that can go miles for a product. Perhaps the most successful thing about the iPhone is that entrepreneurs in the USA can still invent technology that raises the bar a little bit higher.

 

[Kyuu]

I don't really understand why anyone should hate the iPhone or Apple. Seems like there's better things to worry about. Buy the iPhone (or iPod or whatever) or don't. I think many people just hate anything that achieves a large degree of popularity. Only reason I don't own an Apple myself is that they're too expensive compared to similarly capable PCs. Apple stuff is a bit pricey.

Anyway, touchscreens themselves are mildly interesting from a physics standpoint, I suppose. Assuming Radnan's picture is accurate, the iPhone would appear to use the capacitance type, probably the costliest (but superior to most other types of) touchscreen technology. Can read all about it on wiki.