Week 4EOC: There's An App for That

If I could invent one App for the smart phone it would be a Breathalyzer App. Besides the fact I think it would be hilarious to see someone download it on their phone and actually use it. It could probably end up saving lives but, I doubt it. With the number of DUI related deaths in a year you would think that a portable breathalyzer would be beneficial to society.   There are currently different App makers attempting to create this technology. One of these App makers invented a set-up for the iPod and iPhone called the iBreath.” This is the iBreath and although it can be used without an iPod or iPhone via an in car adapter, it is cleverly marketed as an iPod and iPhone accessory that is an alcohol breath test.”( http://www.product-reviews.net/2008/12/22/ibreath-for-iphone-and-ipod-breathalyzer-application/). Who would believe the read out on a breathalyzer if it was on an iPod or iPhone? Most Apps claiming to be a breathalyzer are just drink calculators that attempt to give you an assumption to what your blood alcohol concentration to be. “DrinkTracker automatically compares your alcohol intake and your metabolic removal rate and updates your current Blood Alcohol Content every 60 seconds.”( http://www.slappme.com/). Apps like drink tracker fall short because who actually knows what their metabolic rate is, which means that the App is most likely picking this parameter at random. Creating Apps is on its way to becoming a billion dollar business. Apple is currently the front runner in the app creation business,” making over 700 million from App revenue in 2009.”(http://www.blackberrycool.com/2011/02/28/blackberry-app-world-generates-highest-revenue-per-app/). As long as consumers continue to buy Apps in the market will continue to thrive. There is never any telling on what the next big App in the App store will be but everyone is always waiting and willing to pay for it.