iPad Apps for Materials Scientists

(Image courtesy of apple.com)

A recent article in the AZo Journal of Materials Online by Ian Birkby, cleverly titled "Don't Worry, Be App'y" suggests several iPad and iPhone Apps for Materials manufacturers that can assist them in their daily activities. While several of the apps that made the list can be really useful in the ceramics engineering field, many that Ian lists offer little or no assistance except for in incredibly rare scenarios. This article will separate the wheat from the chaff as far as these engineering apps go. The first app plugged is of course Azo's own materials app, which allows the user to find suppliers and equipment and stay on top of the latest materials news. Molecules and Periodic Lite are aimed toward the chemistry aspects of the materials design field, the former allowing the user to look at complex molecule strands in 3D while being able to rotate them at the touch of a finger, with the latter being a periodic table program which gives detailed information on every element.

Some of the apps suggested, like ConvertBot and the Scientific Calculator app are used primarily for the math aspect of the design process, being able to convert units of measurement and do complex mathematics. However, these apps can be useful to anyone in any engineering field. The other apps listed seem like they are merely filler, some of those suggested are later lampooned in the same article for being non-functional. Of the Metal Detector app, Ian writes:

"Well, let's start with the positives, the graphics certainly make it look like a metal detector and it really sounds like one, giving off that excellent 'Ive found a field full or roman coins" squawk, but, the metallic content of my forehead and the office carpet appeared to be quite high, so I'm sorry to say that you're going to need something a little more sophisticated to work out if you've an 18/8 stainless on the shelf."

The rest of the apps listed: Ceracoat, findNano, Skeptical Science and iAugment either have nothing to do with engineering, or are apps developed for related sciences that (it seems) were just added to the list for the sake of length. While there are about five apps listed in this article that could certainly help a materials engineer, almost half of them are totally irrelevant to the field. If you read the Azo journal and are interested in getting some of the apps they recommend, be careful that you're not paying for something that you will really never use.

To read the article discussed, click the link:

http://www.azom.com/blog_post.asp?BlogID=105