a new take on the ruler

This is the 'Smart Finger' - a device that you wear on your hand and helps you measure the length, breadth and volume of a space. This is a concept device by designers Choi Hyong-Suk, Jung Ji-hye and Yoo-Jin Park. 

I really like this idea of wearable measuring equipment, it takes the effort out of lining up the ruler just right and reading it - the Smart Finger uses sensors between each finger and then displays the exact measurement on a small LCD screen. The inside of the 'fingers' has silicon so any finger will fit, and be comfy as well. What I also think is rather 'neat' is that the Smart Finger has a memory - it can remember up to three distances, so area and volume can be calculated without you having to do the hard math. By measuring two distances, and clicking on the small navigation button twice, area can be calculated. By measuring and recording three distances, and clicking the button three times, the volume of an object or space can be calculated.

There is one obvious flaw in the design of the Smart Finger though - what if you want to measure a space larger than your hand span? I imagine it could be used with one on each hand, but the sensors may not be strong enough to be used on larger distance. I suppose there are still some things that are just going to be easier to measure with a good old tape measure, and maybe even a calculator. 

Holly Squirrell