>>>>>Hi
>>>>>
>>>>>I guess that is a good point. My business has generally been focused on solving problems for customers not inventing software that someone might like. So the biggest challenge with the iPhone is coming up with an idea. I am not one for building computer games so until I come across a need that fits the iphone or an idea for some application the platform does not hold a lot of appeal at present.
>>>>
>>>>Just yesterday I ran across an innovative iPhone app: http://createwithcontext.com/windspire.html
>>>
>>>How in earth can an iPhone act as an Anemometer?
>>
>>It seems that wind blowing across the iPhone microphone makes sound. A little testing and calibration, you're good to go.
>
>Since wind direction is as important as speed I assume you'd have to stand there for several hours (gently rotating in the breeze) to get meaningfull information :-}

They claim 20 seconds: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10390435-54.html

It's worth noting that the Windspire turbine associated with this app is a vertical-axis turbine, so wind direction isn't important.

I imagine there are ways to improve the accuracy without having to stand there for hours, such as taking short readings several times a day over a period of several days.

In any case, for the purpose of this thread the point isn't the app's accuracy - no-one is going to approve a large wind farm based on iPhone measurements. It's that these sorts of apps are even conceivable.