Tag Archives: smartphones

July/August Sensor Forum – Accessing Built-In Sensors on an Android Device

Audience and Android Device with Sensor Data
August Sensor Forum

Most contemporary Android devices have one or more sensors, such as motion, humidity, and light sensors. In July, the event format was a code walkthrough of how to access sensors integrated into an Android smartphone or tablet. In July, we presented sample code and explanation of the Android sensor framework. In August, attendees brought their own laptop and Android device and created a “Hello World” Android project accessing and displaying sensor data from their device. These were joint events with the Dallas Google Developer Group.

The speakers explained the Android framework for accessing the sensors and retrieving the sensor data. A template project was provided for attendees. The attendees worked through the exercises to ultimately complete an activity that displayed accelerometer data. The presentation and workshop covered:

1. Setting up an activity to display sensor values

2. Confirming the presence of the target sensor

3. Retrieving sensor data

4. Displaying & storing sensor values

Speakers

Stacy Devino – Android Innovator at The Home Depot

Leroy Levin – Developer of RV Expenses Android app.

John Lindsay – Patent attorney and novice Android developer working towards a traffic congestion smoothing app.

References

Android Developer Sensor Overview

Selected Presentation Slides

Starting Android Project

Completed Android Project