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April 30, 2007
10 Unexpected Uses of the iPod
New techÂnoloÂgies often have uninÂtendÂed uses. Take the Ipod as a case in point. It was develÂoped with the intenÂtion of playÂing music (and latÂer videos), but its appliÂcaÂtions now go well beyond that. Here are 10 rather unforeÂseen, even surÂprisÂing, uses:
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1. Train DocÂtors to Save Lives: A new study preÂsentÂed at the annuÂal meetÂing of the AmerÂiÂcan ColÂlege of CarÂdiÂolÂoÂgy indiÂcates that iPods can douÂble interns’ abilÂiÂty to idenÂtiÂfy heart sounds that are indicaÂtive of seriÂous heart probÂlems (i.e., aorÂtic or mitral stenoÂsis). By using the iPod to repeatÂedÂly lisÂten to recordÂings of norÂmal and abnorÂmal heart beat patÂterns, interns can effecÂtiveÂly hear when someÂthing is going awry.
Or how about this for anothÂer medÂical appliÂcaÂtion: Will Gilbert, who heads up the bioinÂforÂmatÂics group in the HubÂbard CenÂter for Genome StudÂies, stores the entire human genome on his iPod. As you can read in Wired, he has found that the iPod is a great way to store the gene sequence, all 3 bilÂlion chemÂiÂcal letÂters of it, and, comÂpared to using a netÂwork, he can access data more quickÂly with the litÂtle Apple gadÂget. [Thanks to one of our readÂers for pointÂing this one out.]
2. Bring CrimÂiÂnals to JusÂtice: On an experÂiÂmenÂtal basis, a UnitÂed States fedÂerÂal disÂtrict court has startÂed using iPods to hold copies of wireÂtap transÂmisÂsions in a large drug-conÂspirÂaÂcy case. Why? Because it’s easÂiÂer than storÂing the recordÂings on casÂsette tapes or CDRoms; the defenÂdants and attorÂneys can access and work through the recordÂings with ease; and it can all be done in a secure enviÂronÂment.
3. Get YourÂself Into SeriÂous Shape: Many jogÂgers love how their iPods can proÂvide enterÂtainÂment that will spice up a monotÂoÂnous rouÂtine. But probÂaÂbly few know that you can use the iPod to plan trainÂing routes for their runs. TrailÂRunÂner lets runÂners do preÂciseÂly that. This free proÂgram helps you plan your route and then loads your iPod with maps, disÂtances, and time goals.
4. Tour Around Great Cities: iSubÂwayMaps lets you downÂload subÂway maps from 24 major cities across the globe. They range from New York City, Paris and Berlin to Moscow, Tokyo and Hong Kong. (Get the full list here.) To take advanÂtage of these maps, your iPod will need to supÂport phoÂtos, but that shouldÂn’t be a probÂlem for most recent iPods.
We’ve also talked recentÂly about a venÂture called SoundÂwalk that proÂvides engagÂing, someÂwhat offÂbeat audio tours of New York and Paris (plus Varanasi in India). In New York, they offer indiÂvidÂual tours of LitÂtle Italy, the LowÂer East Side, Times Square and the Meat PackÂing DisÂtrict, among othÂer places. In Paris, they take you through the Marais, St. GerÂmain, Pigalle, Belleville, and the Palais RoyÂal. Each audio tour is narÂratÂed by a celebriÂty of sorts and can be downÂloaded for about $12.
5. CalÂcuÂlate the Right Tip: If you’re a litÂtle math chalÂlenged, you can use your iPod when you’re out to dinÂner to calÂcuÂlate the corÂrect tip. TipÂKalc helps you figÂure out both the tip and the grand total on your bill, and it even lets you split your check up to five difÂferÂent ways.
6. Record Flight data: AccordÂing to a report in Flight GlobÂal, a comÂpaÂny called LoPresti Speed MerÂchants has announced plans to use iPods as flight data recorders in light airÂcraft. The litÂtle white box will serve as the “black box” withÂin the airÂplanes and will have the abilÂiÂty to record over 500 hours of flight time data. Does this mean that iPods can surÂvive plane crashÂes? Who would have thunk it.
7. Throw a MeanÂer CurveÂball: Jason JenÂnings, a pitchÂer for the HousÂton Astros, startÂed using a video iPod last year to review his pitchÂing frame by frame and to improve his overÂall techÂnique. He also reviews video of all opposÂing batÂters before each game. Since incorÂpoÂratÂing the iPod into his trainÂing, he has since seen his ERA go down, and othÂer teams — notably the MarÂlins and Mariners — have looked into using the iPod in simÂiÂlar ways.
8. Learn ForÂeign LanÂguages: iPods are becomÂing more comÂmonÂplace in uniÂverÂsiÂty classÂrooms, with stuÂdents using them to record lecÂtures, take notes, and even creÂate elecÂtronÂic flash cards. (See in depth artiÂcle here.) The gadÂgets are also being used to help stuÂdents forÂmalÂly study music and learn forÂeign lanÂguages. Now, if you’re a regÂuÂlar Open CulÂture readÂer, you’ll know that you don’t need to be a uniÂverÂsiÂty stuÂdent to learn forÂeign lanÂguages with the help of an iPod. With the help of our podÂcasts colÂlecÂtion, you can pick up most any lanÂguage on your own.
9. Learn to Love and Buy Wine: Here’s a novÂel way to get introÂduced to wine. For $35, you can downÂload an audio file called Mark Phillips Wine Guide onto your iPod. This primer will, among othÂer things, teach you how to describe, taste, and buy wine, and you’ll come away with a cerÂtain je ne sais quoi.
10. Test CheatÂing: Yes, unforÂtuÂnateÂly techÂnolÂoÂgy can be used for bad as well as good. It was wideÂly reportÂed just this past week that stuÂdents are apparÂentÂly using the iPod to cheat on exams. DurÂing tests, they’ll apparÂentÂly sneak earÂbuds into their ears and tap into valuÂable forÂmuÂlas, class notes, voicÂes recordÂings, etc. OthÂers will even write out crib notes and enmesh them withÂin song lyrics.
Bonus: The iPod as FlashÂlight: DurÂing the major blackÂout in 2003, many New YorkÂers improÂvised after nightÂfall and used the light genÂerÂatÂed by their iPods to get around their apartÂments. It was a makeshift way of doing things. But now there is a more forÂmal way of using your iPod to light your way. For about $13, you can purÂchase Griffin’s iBeam, an attachÂment that will quickÂly turn your iPod into a comÂbo flashÂlight and laser pointÂer. As they say, be preÂpared.
