Sensors Are All Around Us: Understanding Sensor Basics and Common 
Applications [Infographic]
Editors Note: We were tickled to receive this guest blog on sensors by the Fredricks Company. These folks have really good sensors and know how to use them! They did a great job putting together an infographic that shows just how important sensors are to our modern world and how they are going to be even more important in the future.
Do you have a motion-sensing alarm system in your home?
Do you wear a Fitbit or other wearable pedometer?
Is your phone programmed to identify your fingerprint?
These technologies have become commonplace in our daily lives, and automation is expected from almost every sector.
For example, cars are now programmed to perform hundreds of functions at the touch of a button. And our smart phones are becoming just that – intelligent and high-functioning.
One of the most important pieces of the puzzle to creating these smart devices is sensors. They are the little hidden heroes of the technology and engineering industries, and are constantly called upon to aid our devices in understanding the world around us.
So how do they work?
Broadly defined, a sensor is a mechanical device that transmits a signal to a control instrument. But depending on the desired function, a sensor may operate differently.
There are two basic types – active and passive. A stimulus will prompt a sensor to provide (active) or respond to (passive) a key measurement.
In addition to traditional sensors, smart sensors are now a reality. These microsensors utilize MEMS (microelectronical systems) technology which produces more sophisticated and accurate results.
With technology quickly evolving, there is no doubt that sensors will be utilized in the future’s latest gadgets. Even the medical field is embracing the incorporation of modern sensors and gadgets; LiveScience reports that smart contacts may one day be able to test our body’s sugar levels.
If you’re intrigued by the wonders of mechanics and sensors, check out the infographic below to learn more about the role sensors play in home appliances, mobile phones, game controllers, pedometers and satellite antennae.
Sensors truly are all around us – you just have to know where to look!
