WOT?
Other than the obvious, what additional things can I do with the camera in my phone?
SUMMARY
The primary use of a phone’s camera is to take pictures of people, places and things. However the camera is also a great tool. Here is a list of things I’ve used my camera for which I couldn’t have done any other way:
- A mirror
- See into tight spaces
- Look inside and under furniture
- Look behind monitors and audio equipment
- Capture Manufacturer Tags and Labels
- Keep Track of important Papers
- A strobe while walking at night
WHY?
Having a rear and front facing camera along with a bright LED allow you to do things with your camera that you may have never considered. Not just for photography, the camera and the LED light are great tools which can help you out in many situations. Since it’s with you at all times, the camera is always accessible whenever you need it..
Here are the details for extra things I do with my camera:
A Mirror
We don’t always have access to mirrors. In the old days back when I used a Palm OS device, I used to use it as a mirror by simply looking at my reflection in the glass of the display. It wasn’t great and details to were hard to see. To improve the reflection a bit, there was an app that would activate all of the LCD pixels on the display, darkening the display. With the dark background, you had a better reflection. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
With a camera on the front of the phone, the quality of the “reflection” (which isn’t actually a reflection at all) is far superior to the prehistoric days (also known as the early 2000’s). Open the camera app and activate the front-facing camera like you’re going to take a selfie. Except don’t. Instead, just look at the display. Use the camera to check your hair, make sure there’s no broccoli in your teeth from lunch, nothing on your face, etc.
A Flashlight
Having a flashlight with you at all times can come in very handy. The LED flashlight provides a very bright light source that you can use whenever you need. Some phones have a widget for “Assistive Light” which lets you easily toggle the LED light on and off. If your phone doesn’t have this widget, search for LED flashlight in the Google Play Store to find an app that will do this for you.
You’ll be surprised how many times you’ll use the LED light. Movie theaters are dark. If you drop something under your seat, it’s really hard to see even when the lights come on after the movie has ended. The LED light serves as a great flashlight so that you can easily find what dropped.
If something rolls under your bed or sofa, you can use the flashlight to have a look. At night when putting the kids to bed, sometimes I need a bit of light but I don’t want the room fully lit. What I’ll do is to lay the phone screen down and point the light up to the ceiling. It lights the room evenly, but not too brightly. Oh, and it’s also great for making shadow puppets!
I probably use my phone as a flashlight least once per day, if not more and having it with me all the time is extremely handy.
See Into Tight Spaces
There are times when you want to get a good look at something, but it’s in a spot that makes it difficult to see. For instance, I’m thinking about changing the faucet in our kitchen. While at the store to see my options, I was asked how many holes are available in the sink where the faucet connects. Looking at our sink I see the old faucet, a sprayer and a water purifier. The right answer seemed to be “3.” Without taking off the faucet, I couldn’t tell if there were additional holes being covered up by the faucet itself. I couldn’t get my head in under the sink to look due to the the garbage disposal and pipes getting in the way.
The phone however fit perfectly and I could point the camera straight up to get a good view. The problem was that the angle wasn’t great so I wouldn’t be able to line up the camera to get a clear shot. Instead of trying to take a picture, I activated the LED flashlight and started recording video. I thought that this would give me the best chance to get a good look. I moved the camera slowly, angling it forward, backwards and then side to side. Finally, took the phone out from under the sink and watched the video. Lo and behold, I had my answer. With the video, I was able to get a great view in a place where I couldn’t physically fit and I could freeze the exact frame that showed how many holes were available in the sink. With this knowledge, I can head back to the store to select a faucet that will be best for me. (BTW, there were 4 holes.)
Look Inside and Under Furniture
Have you ever had trouble closing a dresser drawer? I did and it turns out that some clothes had somehow fallen behind the drawer and blocked the drawer from closing. I didn’t know it at the time plus when I tried to reach behind the drawer, I couldn’t feel anything unusual. With this particular dresser, it was difficult to pull the drawers out entirely.
I activated the LED Flashlight and started recording video. I held my phone inside and over the back of the dresser draw, pointing it left, right and down. Upon reviewing the video, not only had a large shirt fallen behind the drawer but also a sock that I thought had disappeared into the washing machine vortex. Knowing where to reach and what I was reaching for, I was able to angle my arm in behind the dresser drawer and pull out the items.
Look Behind Monitors and Audio Equipment
At work I got a brand new monitor The plugs for power and signal were in the back of the monitor but facing downwards towards the desk. I didn’t have a lot of room on my desk, so it was easier to keep the monitor where it was while I tried plugging everything in blindly. The problem is that I didn’t know exactly where the ports were or which direction the plug needed to face. Using the front-facing camera, I slid the top of the camera under the front of the monitor and could see straight up under the monitor and see everything on the screen.
I also have a receiver at home that’s in a cabinet. The cabinet is rather tight and it’s difficult to pull the receiver out while keeping everything plugged in. This time I activated the LED flashlight and video mode. I hovered around the back of the receiver, making slow, deliberate movements. When I was done, I was able to review the video, determine which plugs were full, and which ones I could use.
Capture Manufacturer Tags and Labels
When assembling furniture, one of the pieces will have a tag which contains the manufacturer’s name, address, model number, serial number, date of assembly, etc. When the furniture is in place, this tag is always completely hidden. There are times however that having the information from the tag would use useful.
Before you lose the opportunity, pull out your phone and take a picture of the tag. It is far easier to get this information now than it will be later on. Rename the file or add tags (if using photo management software) so that you’ll be able to find the picture if it’s ever needed. I take pictures of all sorts of tags and labels including the ones that are on all of the appliances in our house. If you ever need a repair and you’re asked for the device model or serial number, you’ll be ready to supply it.
Keep Track of Important Papers
I love paper for its convenience. I hate paper because it can get lost. I’ve written many notes that I’ve then gone on to misplace. Had I entered the note into my phone, I could have saved it, tagged it and filed it away for easy retrieval, though entering notes on a phone is not always the fastest or socially acceptable way of capturing information.
You can however have your cake and eat it too. Write your note on paper, and then take a picture of the paper. When you get home, transfer the picture to your computer, name it and tag it so that you can find it whenever you want.
What about important papers you get through the mail? For instance, that letter from the DMV to renew your registration? Take a picture of that too! How about a receipt from a store? I truthfully haven’t tried taking a picture of a receipt to the store to make a return. Just in case, I would probably print out a duplicate as well.
A strobe while walking at night
When I’m out driving at night, I always see bikers on the road. I can spot them from a great distance because they’ve got a bright strobe which lets everybody know they are there. I haven’t done this one myself yet, however if I find myself going for a walk at night on a dark street, I would first download a strobe app and hold my phone towards traffic so that can be seen.
With a bit of creativity, you will think of even more uses for your camera. What else have you done with your camera or LED light?