Handheld Molecular Scanner

This is probably bullshit.

Celestein_sl said:

Not that this particular one might not be bullshit...but...this technology has existed for like 50 years(and knowledge of how it works roughly 200~), and I've been using it daily. So there's nothing bullshit about spectrometry.

The only thing even questionable about this is the cost, since a handheld spectrometer that I used at work typically ran 30-40k for the lowest end units.

Click to expand...

Pretty much this. It seems like a cheap device that might work in theory but the accuracy of its readings would be shit and only work on very specific things that emitted light in conclusive ways. That being said I've done little besides look at their kickstarter and know very little about spectometry. It's just such a well-established field that someone walking along and providing a low cost solution seems unlikely.

A key factor in object identification is the number of possible objects. These demos work well but the database they are based in for all the closed demos I saw was probably very small. Perhaps almost entirely limited to what they had available.

There's also numerous problems with trying to use spectroscopy to identify objects that are not composed of continuous material. If you have some acetaminophen it probably has a very consistent energy emission throughout. But if you have a steak, pasta or even just an orange there are variety of ways it can reflect energy that would the possible spectrographic signatures to intersect with other very different objects.

In short, I'll believe it when real people get their hands on it and start walking around their house using it to identify shit.

Here's their last campaign:TellSpec: Whats in your food? | Indiegogo

I'm assuming he meant a demo unit, as in, a unit to use/test/keep. I can only assume they would come out to any reputable lab and give a demonstration for free...