#HTE

New, Magical Measuring Device Has Better UX Than Tape Measures and Lasers–But Comes With a Trade-Off

When I first saw this thing, I was blown away. Moasure is a new type of motion-sensor-based measuring device that makes tape measures look completely primitive and outdated. Imagine needing to measure a span larger than six feet; you need to keep the tape from sagging or kinking in order to get an accurate measurement. But with this motion-based Moasure device, you simply need to register it at one point, then walk over to the end point and register it there. It can also calculate angles.

Check out how it works:

The bit about being able to measure through walls is what really got me. I was doing a freelance project with an interior designer where we had to measure an entire subdivided floor of an office building to create CAD drawings. Measuring the large, open spans was relatively easy with the laser we were using, but measuring the series of enclosed offices on the perimeter, and getting them to reconcile with the overall floorplan, was a pain in the neck as we had to calculate the wall thicknesses, complicated by inconveniently-placed soffets and columns. If we were using Moasure this would have been infinitely easier.

Is there a catch? Of course there is, though I had to dig through the FAQ to find it. The accuracy of the device is listed as “typically better than 0.5%.” To make the math simple:

For Everyone in the World Who Uses a Rational Measuring System:

- For every meter, you’re looking at plus/minus 5mm.

- 10 meters means 5cm of potential error.

For the United States:

- For every six feet, you’re looking at plus/minus about 3/8".

- 60 feet means 3.6 inches of potential error.

In other words, the device may be good enough for an interior designer measuring a wall on which to hang artwork, or creating rough floorplans of a client’s apartment, to drop furniture into a CAD drawing. It might be useful to a furniture designer/builder trying to get the rough dimensions of boards in a pile of reclaimed lumber.

But it certainly would not be useful in actual fabrication, nor in measuring spaces into which components will be installed. We contacted Curt Meissner of Brooklyn-based MPD Design Build, which designs, builds and installs cabinetry, to ask if he could live with 3/8" wiggle room over six feet. Here’s his response:

“Never. I’m used to my Hilti laser measure being off by 1/16” over 15 feet or so. That’s about the limit for me, especially for hard-to-reach areas or for quick diagonal checks to verify square walls, et cetera.“

The technology within the Moasure is clever, and the UX looks great. But in its current iteration, it seems better-suited to DIY'ers and casual users rather than designers who require precision.

Moasure is currently holding a crowdfunding campaign, and I do hope they make it. At press time they were at $17,374 towards a $28,328 goal, with 24 days left to pledge. If you’d like to support them, click here.