Mobile Devices Research Service
Wireless Semiconductors Research Service
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what's next in connectivity | |
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Saturday - May 17, 2008
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Accelerometers Bring Motion Sensing to Wireless Handsets
2007-05-10
Cellular technology continues to evolve, adding features and functionality. To facilitate some of these changes, integrated circuit products are being specifically tailored for use in the wireless handset market. Approximately ten years ago, the MEMs (mircoelectromechanical) accelerometer transformed the automotive industry by replacing the costly crash sensors used for airbag deployment with a small, inexpensive substitute. The next big achievement for MEMs accelerometers was -- actually is -- the gaming market. In 2006, Nintendo Entertainment Systems launched Wii, a low priced game console, which utilizes wireless, motion sensing controllers. The drastically different console has had a huge impact on the gaming market. The Wii has dominated the gaming console market every month since its release, except December 2006 (in which Microsoft beat the competition due in part to a huge pre-Christmas sale on the Xbox 360). Wireless handset manufacturers took notice of the technology early, but adapting MEMs accelerometers to cellular market dynamics would require some time.
| Author: | Doug McEuen | Senior Analyst, Wireless Semiconductors |
2007-05-10
Cellular technology continues to evolve, adding features and functionality. To facilitate some of these changes, integrated circuit products are being specifically tailored for use in the wireless handset market. Approximately ten years ago, the MEMs (mircoelectromechanical) accelerometer transformed the automotive industry by replacing the costly crash sensors used for airbag deployment with a small, inexpensive substitute. The next big achievement for MEMs accelerometers was -- actually is -- the gaming market. In 2006, Nintendo Entertainment Systems launched Wii, a low priced game console, which utilizes wireless, motion sensing controllers. The drastically different console has had a huge impact on the gaming market. The Wii has dominated the gaming console market every month since its release, except December 2006 (in which Microsoft beat the competition due in part to a huge pre-Christmas sale on the Xbox 360). Wireless handset manufacturers took notice of the technology early, but adapting MEMs accelerometers to cellular market dynamics would require some time.