The Smart Phone Add-On Camera That Sees Through Walls

The Seek Thermal Camera is a new smart phone technology that was once only available to military personnel and those with a high clearance. However, this technology has now been commercialized and is available to the public. The Seek Thermal Camera is a tiny camera that attaches directly to your smartphone and displays a thermal image of all that is around you, showing the temperature snapshot of the surrounding environment.

This is not just a cool accessory for your smartphone or a toy to play with. There are actually a variety of real-world uses for the Sleek Thermal Camera. For do-it-yourself enthusiasts, the camera allows you to see issues inside of pipes or expose heat loss by around doors and windows. Home cooks are able to use the camera to determine the hot and cold spots on their grill. Also, it is a highly useful application for home security to observe any unwanted animals or humans in the back yard at night.

At $250 for a smartphone accessory, the price is very high.  However, Seek’s versatility and functionality more than makes up for the price tag. It is important to note that professional thermal imaging technology can costs thousands of dollars so in comparison, the Seek is significantly cheaper while still maintaining excellent quality.

The Seek Thermal System

Compatible with Android and iOS devices with an app for each, the Seek is available in two attachments; the $300 Thermal Xtra Range (XR) and the $250 Thermal camera, both of which are available for iOS and Android. The primary difference between the two products is that the XR has the ability to see twice as far as the standard camera with the same clarity. The iPhone requires you to have iOS 7+ and a Lightning connector. The Android requires Jelly Bean 4.3.1+.

The camera is only 1.6 x 0.8 x 0.6-inches and weighs 14-grams. With a chalcogenide lens that is offset to the left, the right side has the connector that plugs into the phone. The tiny size allows it to slip comfortably into your pocket for the ultimate mobility. The camera also comes with a soft rubber interior carrying case that protects the camera. There is also a loop on one side so it can easily be attached to a keychain. Once the app is install, the camera is as simple as plugging it into your smartphone automatically launching the app. The setup takes a few seconds and then it is ready to use.

Seeking Temperatures

The Seek works during the day or at night in any type of lighting. Since it does not need visual light, the camera picks up infrared waves from every object around you. We are unable to see those waves with the naked eye so the camera converts them into visible images with color. The output is an interesting to view and useful for seeing objects that you may not otherwise see.

To see invisible infrared waves, the Seek relies on a tiny sensor chip that internal algorithm that creates thermal images. The camera has the ability to capture 32,000 pixels with every shot and all pixels take a different temperature measurement to construct the entire video or photograph. The camera is powerful enough to detect temperatures ranging from -40 degree Fahrenheit to 626 degrees Fahrenheit. The photographs and videos are by no means high resolution at 206 x 156 pixels. However, you are still able to make out details when holding the camera still for a few seconds prior to snapping the photo. The app transmits the image to your phone for viewing. The shutter is automatic in order to keep the lens calibrated.

The Mobile App

The other component of the Seek Thermal System is the smartphone app. This allows you to see the camera’s viewfinder, control camera features and take photographs and videos. When the camera is not attached, you can view the image gallery. Once added to the phone, the viewfinder will automatically pop up on the screen. Simply point the lens at something interesting to immediately view your image. Although the app is extremely bare bones, there are a many features that allow you to customize what is viewed on the camera. You can adjust the color palettes and filters, utilize different scene modes and turn on High/Low displays. Additionally, there is Thermal+ mode which allows you to see split screen from the camera and your phone. You can customize this feature also by dragging the slider to control how much of the image you wish to view on the screen.

Who Should Buy This?

The Seek Camera System transforms professional-grade equipment into a functional and customizable product for your smartphone. However, it continues to be a niche product that does not make sense for all consumers. If you are into do-it-yourself, home repair or car improvement, thermal cameras can assist with seeing through objects to detect problems. Drains can be checked for clogs, areas of hot air escaping from your home and even around pipes in the engine.

Therefore, if you have an actual need to see through walls or determine the temperature of different items then this is the product for you. There is no need to purchase expensive professional grade equipment with this camera available for a fraction of the price.

Although expensive, the Seek Thermal Camera is versatile and is an excellent gadget with a number of uses. The hardware is well-constructed with an excellent design and high quality carrying case with only a few caveats. There is a small learning curve for using and positioning the camera but once you get the hang of it, the camera is simple to use. Until the price drops, it may not be the best option for everyone so there are a lot of considerations prior to just dropping $250. You must have a specific set of uses for it to make the purchase worthwhile. In summary, if you are comparing the Seek to any of its competitors, the Seek is the best option because of its compatibility with so many devices.