Most apps are dead boring. Sensors can help add some zing. Sensors are data collectors that measure physical properties of the real-world such as location, pressure, humidity, touch, voice, and much more. You can find sensors just about anywhere these days, most obviously in mobile devices that have accelerometers, GPS, microphones, and more. There is also the Internet of Things (IoT) that refers to the proliferation of Internet connected and accessible sensors expanding into every corner of humanity. But, most applications barely use them to the fullest extent possible. Data from sensors can help make your apps predictive to impress customers, make workers more efficient, and boost your career as an application developer.

Sensors also exist in a wide variety of industrial, medical, scientific, consumer, and many other use cases. Voltage meter on a submersible oil pump — that's a sensor. Heart beat monitor in a hospital — that's a sensor. Ocean temperature beacon — that's a sensor. Fitbit wearable activity tracker — that's a sensor. The NASA Mars Lander — that's loaded with hundreds of sensors.

Set Your Apps Free!

Remember Tommy, the rock opera penned by the English rock band, The Who? As the story goes, Tommy becomes the "deaf, dumb, and blind" kid after being traumatized. Apps without sensors are just like Tommy. They fly blind. They don't listen. They are at a disadvantage, but they try real hard. As sensors continue to proliferate, leading application developers will eagerly use them to make existing apps smarter. And, just like Tommy who sings "I'm Free" after regaining all his senses, your sensor powered apps too will sing — leading to better user experiences.

Read The Full Forrester Report

Forrester clients can read the full report Use Sensors To Take Apps To The Next Level of Customer Engagement to understand a foundational taxonomy of sensors that you can use to identify sensor opportunities for you to design, develop, and deliver more useful and engaging apps for your customers.

Authors of this research are: Mike Gualtieri, Principal Analyst and Rowan Curran, Researcher