Before this article becomes a heavy dispute over Apple’s thumb print-reading technology, or the ever-co controversial hype between Samsung and Apple, I would firstly like to state that the technology for detecting earthquakes may not just lay within the temperamental screens of iPhones.
In a recent study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, it has been reported that the Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) accelerometers can measure the acceleration rate of the vibrations and movements from cars, buildings and-of course- the ground during an earthquake. For all of you who have a phobia of technological terms, the MEMS accelerometers are the tiny chips encase in your phone and laptop screen that allows your screen to adjust, accordingly to your position. Otherwise, it is known as the extremely annoying chip that is makes your phone screen overly sensitive to the slightest motion.
Seismologists Antonio D’Alessandro and Giuseppe D’Anna from Italy have tested these rather inexpensive MEMS accelerometers to see if they could effectively and reliably detect ground motion created by earthquakes. Specifically, they experimented with the MEMS accelerometer in the iPhone and compared it with an actual earthquake sensor, the ES-T force balance accelerometer from Kinemetrics INC. It was yet another showdown between Apple and another corporation.
It was revealed that the MEMS accelerometer from the iPhone could actually detect earthquakes that have a magnitude of greater than 5. Many scientists believe that with this knowledge, the technology could be adjusted in order to sense weaker earthquakes.
This is a break through moment for the seismology community. The MEMS accelerometers are inputed into a wide range of cell phones and laptops in many areas. Therefore, this would create a seismic network in an urban surrounding that could radiate data in real-time in the circumstances of an earthquake. The plethora of the ground motion data could assist first responders to locate the areas that are susceptible to the greatest extent of damage.
So before you throw your iPhone or any other touch-screen device in a state of rage because the screen keeps rotating, think of the resources and lives you could preserve by practicing some patience. “A moment of patience in a moment of anger can help us avoid a thousand moments of sorrow.”-Imam Ali (A.S.)Or perhaps just put the screen-lock function on your device. Either way, technology is a beautiful thing.
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