"Our research team looked at whether the technical requirements of a compact infrared camera are such that you can already put it — "plug and play" — into a cell phone,” said Dr. Nizan Yaniv of the Holon Academic Institute of Technology. Yaniv teamed with Israeli cellular communications operator Cellcom. "It's just a matter of design, not technology," Yaniv added.

Infrared cameras measure temperature and are used to "see in the dark." Originally, they were used primarily by the military and for space exploration. In recent years, regular cameras have been integrated into cell phones, while stationary infrared cameras have become digital and miniature, expanding their application base.

Stationary infrared cameras are used today to locate missing people, making medical diagnoses and performing quality control checks in industry. They were widely used during the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to measure the body temperature of passengers at airports. Increasingly, the cameras are used in search-and-rescue operations to identify people lost in thick fog, smoke, heavy snow or debris. In industry, they can detect faults in parts.

"With this device built into your cell phone, you could take your temperature or check whether there is someone prowling in the dark, just by using your cell phone," Yaniv said.

Such a device could be used for myriad other applications, including early diagnoses of some medical conditions, heart exams, rapid identification of infections in animals (a tool in the dairy industry), identifying leaks in apartment buildings, and detecting explosive materials by laymen.

Yaniv said he believes the first users could be rescue forces such as police, firefighters and medics.

The Israeli researcher is negotiating with two large international firms to try to bring the development to market.