Does this sort of app exist?

[Palmisok]

I was just thinking of an application that automatically alerts the user if a BT device is farther than 20-30 feet away from them. Now, I know I saw it somewhere, but I can't remember if it was for Palm or not. The point of the program is to alert the user if he/she left their phone or headset behind. Does it really exist or am I just imagining this?

[ammar766]

I'm also looking for something like this but for Infra red, So it will tell me if an infrared device is near by.

[antoinepierre]

I'm also looking for something like this but for Infra red, So it will tell me if an infrared device is near by.Don't dream.
- range is very short.
- you need to be exactly in front of the other IR port.
- IR must be "ON".

[_Em]

Actually, for general detection, you just have to be in range of the reflected IR signal -- if you are in a room with white walls, you can be 8 feet away facing the other direction. Of course, IR has to be set to do hardware level receive and be polling the PV sensor, and the other device has to actually be emitting. Also, ANY IR-emitting device (including bright sunlight) will trigger this.

As for the BT solution, I know I saw that a year or so ago too... seems to me it could do a number of things, including auto-syncing when a paired computer came in range, and triggering an alarm when a phone went out of range. Can't think what it was called though.

[Palmisok]

found something similar, but it's not a program. It's called BlueQ and it's a vibrating bracelet (kinda big) that can alert you about a call or appointment and it can also vibrate if you are out of range of that device. I know I saw the software about something like this somewhere though. Still gotta find where.

[ammar766]

Don't dream.
- range is very short.
- you need to be exactly in front of the other IR port.
- IR must be "ON".

I've now had my oldest laptop for 4 or 5 years yesterday I just discovered my laptop had an IR port, How? I was tapping away on my Clie I put it down on my desk for a second to go do something on my laptop when this message popped up along with some funky sound,

"ammar (my sync name) is near by click here to send files"

My point is it will come in handy.


- range is very short..


Note: The Clie is a pretty old unit, Newer devices have great range the "Noviiremote blaster" for the treo 650 can go over 75-feat.
http://www.bityard.com/article.php?sid=747#Adds

- you need to be exactly in front of the other IR port.


Thats definitely NOT true when your controlling your TV do you need to be EXACTLY in front of it IR port?

http://www.novii.tv/img/nrb/nrb_pic3.jpg

- IR must be "ON".



Thats true but so does Bluetooth.

[alt236]

The minimum IRDA specification is for a 15 degree half angle cone.
It can be more than that of course :)

[ammar766]

The minimum IRDA specification is for a 15 degree half angle cone.
It can be more than that of course :)

So, I'm right, right? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_13.gif

[Palmisok]

doesn't the distance that the TV reads the IR depend on the TV and not so much on the remote? I can't remember where I read it, but if I'm right there are different types of IR signals meaning it won't have the length like the picture that was posted between 2 PDAs.

[alt236]

So, I'm right, right? http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_13.gif

You will still need to be at the general vicinity of the port on your laptop eg. the two devices would have to be looking at each other (unless you have white walls as _Em said, which would make your life slightly easier since the signal will be bouncing more).

The closer you are the smaller the leeway would be (since the distance between the two sides of the arc would be smaller).

doesn't the distance that the TV reads the IR depend on the TV and not so much on the remote? I can't remember where I read it, but if I'm right there are different types of IR signals meaning it won't have the length like the picture that was posted between 2 PDAs.

TVs don't normally use IRDA but RAW IR signals. The difference is similar to, say, a TTL Serial Connection and a RS232 Connection. They are doing the same thing but an RS232 does it in a more structured way (handshaking, error correction/detection etc.).
Since TVs don't send feedback to the controller, its much easier to have a high powered blaster on it.
So, no although TV IR sensitivity is one thing, the important factor is with how much power does the remote transmit in order to blank out any environmental IR noise.

[ammar766]

doesn't the distance that the TV reads the IR depend on the TV and not so much on the remote? I can't remember where I read it, but if I'm right there are different types of IR signals meaning it won't have the length like the picture that was posted between 2 PDAs.

Thats true if your receivers good you can pick up a weak IR signal from farther away but at the same time if your transmitters good you can go farther. Its a push and pull concept. An example of this is I have Noviiremote trained to command my TV, Sat, Fan, Air conditioner. With my Clies Ir port I can turn On/Off My TV from Like 10 - 15 feat away. But I can only turn On/Off my Fan from 3 - 4 feat away. In both cases it pays to have a better transmitter. The Fans remote can turn On/Off the fan from like 10 - 15 feat because oblivious it has a better transmitter. With the software idea I had I didn't mean so much 2 PDAs, I meant cameras, Cell phones, mp3 players, anything with an IR port. And IR is found more than bluetooth in todays devices anyway.

[ammar766]

TVs don't normally use IRDA but RAW IR signals. The difference is similar to, say, a TTL Serial Connection and a RS232 Connection. They are doing the same thing but an RS232 does it in a more structured way (handshaking, error correction/detection etc.).
Since TVs don't send feedback to the controller, its much easier to have a high powered blaster on it.
So, no although TV IR sensitivity is one thing, the important factor is with how much power does the remote transmit in order to blank out any environmental IR noise.

That answer seems much smarter
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_11.gif