Mobile Technology

Snooperscope adds night vision to smartphone cameras

View 11 Images
The Snooperscope adds night vision to smartphones
Snooperscope can be affixed to all kinds of mounts
A look at what the Snooperscope sees
Using a Snooperscope to photograph another Snooperscope
The parts and functions of the Snooperscope
Using the Snooper scope to see through fresh ink
Snooperscope can make opaque liquid appear transparent
A teddy bear shot with and without Snooperscope
A view of the Snooperscope application
Snooperscope attached to smartphones and tablets
Some possible uses for Snooperscope
The Snooperscope adds night vision to smartphones
View gallery - 11 images

Ever since Paris Hilton and her night vision outtakes took center stage, the technology has grown exponentially in popularity. Now, a product called Snooperscope aims to bring similar technology to the masses through the use of smartphones and tablets.

This isn't the first time we've seen night vision for smartphones, as we've already covered the USNV Night Vision iPhone Adapter. The big difference between that and this new product is the size and the way it affixes itself to the mobile device. Snooperscope uses magnets to grip the back of the phone, and as such, it easy to remove.

In addition to the magnets, Snooperscope also has a screw port on the bottom allowing it to be mounted on a tripod, on the dashboard of a car, and in other places. This opens up a lot of potential uses such as mounting it in front of a door for late night visitors. The reason the night vision scope is able to be used this way is because it connects to the iPhone or Android device using Wi-Fi. The device creates its own private network, the user connects to it, and then accesses what the night vision camera sees using the included application.

From within the app users can see what the Snooperscope sees, and they can also snap photos and videos.

The camera itself uses infrared light that is converted into an image that is visible by the human eye. Because it uses IR, that means the human eye cannot see the light generated by the device, thus allowing it to be used in stealth.

PSY Corporation is seeking funding for the Snooperscope on Kickstarter. It has already exceeded its £40,000 goal. Buyers interested in preordering a device can do so for a minimum pledge of £43 (US$70) while the rewards at that tier last. From there, the funding requirement jumps to its final retail price which is £60 ($98). The company expects to deliver the night vision scope in March.

The pitch video below provides more information on the Snooperscope.

Sources: Snooperscope, Kickstarter

View gallery - 11 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
7 comments
The Skud
It is amazing how quickly technology now moves from 'military only' to 'any civilian can use it' When night vision was invented, it was bulky and very inefficient, now see what it can do!
Slowburn
@ The Skud Everything was clumsy when it was first invented.
djdude1327
I wonder if it will work with Apple IPad AIR....?
Ed
Hmmm, this doesn't seems to be a night-vision scope...it looks like it's nothing more than an infrared detector with emitters. I did this to a normal webcam. Unscrewed the lens, scratched off the IR coating and now the camera sees infrared. Perfect for night viewing... a little weird during the day. All of the colors are screwed up...and with the added advantage...clothing becomes see-through!
Slowburn
@ Ed Only some clothes.
dalroth5
Hmmm. There's night vision==photomultiplication, and then there's "night vision"==IR. The former uses some still-expensive tech to make dim light images bright enough to see, in the dark. The latter uses cheap IR detectors to provide a heat image, usually flooded with IR light by the same or another device.
The former is stealthy--which is why the military use it--because everything around the subject stays unlit.
The latter is only stealthy if you haven't got your own cheap IR detector, because if you have, you can see that somebody has suddenly arrived and lit the place up like a Broadway stage in IR. IOW, not very stealthy at all, but a good way for scumbag salesmen and -women to make money out of suckers.
ShanMan
dalroth5 is spot on. The military technology amplifies even minute amounts of light.