Sensors for Interaction
List of Sensors suitable for Interaction, categorized by different aspects:
Interface:
Resistance, voltage, current, capacitance, frequency, digital protocol, pwm, switch, open collector, logic level
Physical effect:
Pressure, Tension, Voltage, Current, Magnetism, Bend / flex, position, length, distance, presence, orientation, light, conductance (resistance), sound pressure, air pressure, fluid pressure, ultrasound, angle, radii (curvature)
Use as interface
Difficult to classify, thus incomplete:
location (2d, 3d), eye position, movement, forces and deformation, presence, ambient measurements. switches and buttons. incremental input (rotary or linear sliders, etc.)
Common Examples
writing: location + pressure mouse: location + digital pressure + wheel
| Sensor | Physical | Electrical |
| Bend and flex stress or curvature | Bending | Resistive |
| Reed switch | Magnetism | Switch |
| Photo transistor | Light, broad spectrum | Transistor, current |
| Photo diode | Light, broad spectrum | Diode, reverse current |
| LDR (Light dependant resistor) | Light, broad spectrum | Resistive |
| PIR: passive infrared movement detector | Movement of differently warm objects | Open collector / Voltage / Switch |
| Pyroelectric Sensor | Changes in Temperature | Transistor, current |
| FSR Force sensing Resistor | Pressure | Resistive |
| NTC | Temperature | Resistance |
| PTC | Temperature | Resistance |
| Temperature Sensor, integrated | Temperature | Voltage |
| Hall Sensor | Magnetic fields | various. |
| Electret microphone | Pressure (sound) in air. | Voltage (integrated amplifier) |
| Piezo disk or transducer | deformation, sound in solids and fluids, | Voltage |
| Strain gauge | Pressure and tension | Resistance |
| Peltier element | Temperature difference bewtween 2 surfaces | Voltage + Current |
| Vibration Sensor (piezo) | Acceleration (by inertia) | Voltage |
| MEMS Acceleration Sensor | Acceleration | PWM |
| Rotary encoder | Rotation, infinite | Switch |
| Rotary encoder | Rotation, infinite, absolute | Open collector, digital |
| Potentiometer, rotary | Rotation, limited | |
| Potentiometer, hotpot | Pressure | Resistive |
| Potentiometer, slider | Linear position | Resistive |
| Touch, Capacitive (Button) | Presence | various |
| Touch, Capacitive (Slider) | Position and Presence | various |
| Touch, Capacitive, 2D | Position 2D and Presence | various |
| Touch, Resistive, 2D | Position 2D and Pressure | various |
| CCD array | Light | digital or analog video |
| Stepper motor | rotation, infinite | Voltage, digital (pulses) |
| Sharp Distance Sensor (IR) | Distance | Voltage |