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Reading Ultrabook Sensor Data with the Windows 8 Sensor API

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6 Nov 2012CPOL2 min read 29.7K   1.1K   6   2
A head start for App Innovation contestants

Introduction

Note: This is not a complete article. It is shared for the purpose of helping App Innovation contestants get started with Ultrabook sensor manipulation. As my schedule allows, I will add detail to the article.

The Windows 8 Sensor API makes communication with the Ultrabook's sensors a snap.

Image 1

Background

The Ultrabook includes several physical solid-state sensors as well as a few virtual sensors that are abstracted through the API.

How It Works

The application consists of a single-form Windows Forms application that updates the user interface in real-time with current sensor data. A background thread subscribes to sensor class events and collects sensor data. The UI thread updates the UI periodically with the data collected by the sensor thread.

To obtain sensor data, call the static GetDefault() method of the appropriate class, set properties as necessary, and subscribe to available events (ReadingChanged is typically available).

The user interface uses a custom Metro-style-style group-box control.

Points of Interest

  1. I have been unable to get GPS sensor data from the Intel Ultrabook. From what I can tell, it either:
    1. doesn't have GPS or it's not enabled
    2. doesn't have an antenna
    3. doesn't include working drivers
  2. I have been unable to get near-field communication (NFC) working. I have only tried to sense NFC tags (containing the Mifare Ultralight chip).
  3. Use of the API in desktop applications requires a reference to the Windows 8 runtime. This requires a bit of mucking about in Visual Studio.
  4. If Windows 8 is not present, the application will fail with a TypeLoadException before even reaching Main().
  5. The location API appears to use some standard accuracy values, from which we can infer the sensor being used:
    1. 1000m == IP address geolocation
    2. 100m == WiFi database geolocation
    3. < 85m == GPS geolocation
  6. I don't know if all of my units of measurement are correct.
  7. 1G is equal to an acceleration of 9.81m/s² or a force of 9.81N/kg.

If you have additional information to share, please contact me. If you found this useful, please cast a vote.

History

  • 2012-11-06 – Original article

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Engineer Robotic Assistance Devices / AITX
Canada Canada
Yvan Rodrigues has 30 years of experience in information systems and software development for the industry. He is Senior Concept Designer at Robotic Assistance Devices

He is a Certified Technician (C.Tech.), a professional designation granted by the Institute of Engineering Technology of Ontario (IETO).

Yvan draws on experience as owner of Red Cell Innovation Inc., Mabel's Labels Inc. as Manager of Systems and Development, the University of Waterloo as Information Systems Manager, and OTTO Motors as Senior Systems Engineer and Senior Concept Designer.

Yvan is currently focused on design of embedded systems.

Comments and Discussions

 
QuestionUsing an external GPS as a location sensor Pin
John Mechalas8-Feb-13 10:13
John Mechalas8-Feb-13 10:13 
Very nice article, Yvan, and thank you for posting the code samples.
You are correct that the GPS does not work in those ultrabooks. I have posted a 3-part series of blog articles on making an external GPS work as a location sensor in the Windows Runtime in Windows 8 (this method also works for desktop apps in WIndows 7 and 8):

No GPS? No problem! Using GPSDirect to develop location-aware apps

While this is certainly not ideal, it does give developers an option for creating and testing location-based apps with a working GPS device.
QuestionMY VOTE OF 5 Pin
Abhishek Nandy7-Nov-12 16:58
professionalAbhishek Nandy7-Nov-12 16:58 

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