10. Sensors

One of the biggest differences between mobile computing and traditional desktop computing is that the mobile device moves with the user through the different situations in life. This situatedness isn’t just so the user can access the phone at any time; it also enables the phone to access more information about the user and the environment. Smartphones have sensors in them that can help read the world around them, which is a great data source for apps to use. One such sensor is the Location Sensor, with a GPS receiver at its core, which enables the phone to identify where it is in the world. Google Maps (see Figure 10.1) can suggest restaurants because it knows where you are. Apps might be able to combine your location data with information ...

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