Phone accelerometer how does it work

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Do you want to create delightful viewing experiences for your users using the inbuilt accelerometer of smartphones?

The sensor is available in high-end mobile phones. You must have a smartphone to see how accelerometer helps in changing the orientation of your mobile app. Personal digital assistants and digital audio players control the user interface of the mobile app with the help of an accelerometer. It adjusts the orientation of content and presentation of the mobile app to make it user-friendly. As accelerometer in smartphone can track the movement, it is used as a pedometer to count steps, and based on the step it enables users to with the detailed analysis of how many calories burnt, how many kilometers they walked, and more.

Most of the smartphones use accelerometer these days to align the screen orientation depending on the direction of the device is held. The accelerometer in smartphone comprises at least a tilt sensor to manage the view of the images. Sometimes, it is used with the purpose to correct shake while taking pictures, auto-rotation of images, play motion-sensitive mini-games.

We have a team of skilled mobile app developers who have proven experience in delivering mobile solutions with the accelerometer. We have helped ABB , the market leader of manufacturing Low Voltage LV Motors, to perform pre-emptive maintenance of the industrial motors using the smartphone.

Analyzing different parameters, the app suggests pre-emptive maintenance. It helped the client to reduce the motor on time by performing on-time repair or replacement. Planning to build an app like ABB using the power of accelerometer? This is how motion controls in video games for example, tilting the controller to steer in a racing game work. This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies.

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See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Materials Smartphone or tablet with Internet access and permission to download and install an app Soft surface, such as a pillow, bed or couch Adult to help verify and download the app Access to a playground optional Velcro band or other method for attaching the phone to your arm or leg optional Vehicle to ride on or in, such as a bicycle, car, bus, and so on optional Preparation Ask an adult to help you search for and download an "accelerometer" app on a smartphone or tablet.

There are plenty of free options available, but some apps may have ads or in-app purchases enabled. Get to know your accelerometer app. Some apps will just display a number on the screen, whereas others will display a meter or a graph. An app that lets you record data and automatically finds minimum and maximum values will work best for this project. Most accelerometer apps will display three acceleration readings, with labels such as "X," "Y" and "Z.

Usually if you put your phone flat on a table with the screen facing up, "X" acceleration would be any movement left to right, "Y" acceleration would be any movement in the direction of the top or bottom of the device, and "Z" acceleration would be any movement up and down above or below the table surface. Some apps might give you the option to combine readings from all three directions and will display the combined or total acceleration.

Make sure the app is working: wave your phone around, and you should see the numbers change. Procedure Measure the acceleration of "typical" motions you make as you go about your day. How big are the accelerations you measure? Now measure the accelerations of "fast" motions.

Try jumping, running, twirling or waving your arms around be careful not to drop the phone! How large are these accelerations? Try dropping the phone a short distance onto a soft surface, such as a pillow, bed or couch. What is the acceleration when the phone hits the ground?