Who knew it could be so easy to make a scaled drawing of your room? And, you don’t even have to lift a pencil. In fact, this RoomScan app from Locometric actually does the drawing for you.
This nifty application for iOS 7.0 or later uses the iPhone’s internal position sensors to map out a room, recognizing a turn of direction as a new wall. You just tap the phone against the wall as you walk around the room. When you get to a door, tap the phone and proceed ahead. You start at the first wall, circling the room until you get back to the second wall. It needs that extra turn to know it has completed the circle. Don’t worry, if you make a mistake or tap too hard, the voice will let you know the error of your ways and will provide corrective instructions. And, the app communicates in a host of languages to guide you through the scanning process.
Imagine the convenience for the average homeowner. It’s useful for centering shelves or artwork. And, no need to wrestle with annoying tape measures. The ability to email the drawing on the spot is a convenience for any number of circumstances. For example, RoomScan might be handy for home buyers and real estate agents to share floor plans.
Reviews seem to indicate that the free app does a fairly accurate job of measuring the distance between flat vertical surfaces. Though not intended to be a replacement for an architect’s blueprint, the app offers accuracy of within six inches, making it ideal for rough sketches.
But, there is also a “Pro” version with additional features for under five dollars. If your needs exceed that of the average DIY homeowner, the information can be combined with a laser measurement for precision. And, the drawing can be exported to PDF or even DXF for AutoCAD. The measurements can be expressed in either metric or US standard.
Recent versions fix a few of its earlier glitches and allow for compatibility with even more devices. Since the price is right (free – $4.99) why not give it a try and see what personal applications you might find for this fun and convenient app?
