The increase in augmented reality and location awareness applications has prompted a salient evolution in the smartphone ecosystem.
Indeed, the sensor-driven user interface (UI) is expected to be an emergent theme in the next wave of mobile devices – transforming objects, locations and people into networked, interactive elements.
“By 2013, 85% of smartphones will ship with GPS, over 50% will ship with accelerometers and almost 50% will have gyroscopes,” senior ABI analyst Victoria Fodale told TG Daily in an e-mailed statement.
“[Clearly], the growth of sensors in smartphones will be driven by gaming, location awareness and augmented reality apps, as well as the expansion of motion-based commands.”
Fodale also noted that smartphones – which are powered by “high-level” operating systems – continue to encourage and advance new uses for data collated by cameras, sensors and GPS receivers.
“[For example], when an accelerometer is combined with a gyroscope, developers can create applications capable of sensing motion on six axes: up and down, left and right, forward and backwards, as well as roll, pitch and yaw rotations.
“[Still], added functionality must be balanced with ease of use [in the future]. As mobile devices integrate more [features], the UI [should] be kept simple enough to be intuitive for the user.”
