GPS and Orientation Sensors

Question

Is there any type of external hardware that I can connect to a machine that would be seen as a sensor for GPS, Accelerometer, or Gyroscope on Windows 8? If so where can I purchase it?

Thanks.

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 1

Yes. Please see the development board from ST at the bottom of this blogpost: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/01/24/supporting-sensors-in-windows-8.aspx

I bought one myself and it works great.

Wrt to GPS, any sensor that comes with Win7 drivers should do. For dev that might not be as important since you can use the built in WiFi based one just for getting a rough location.

Answer 2

Thanks, just found one on digikey.com and ordered it. 

You're right, GPS doesn't matter as much. I'm doing something with augmented reality and while that requires high resolution location any location data will do for development and it looks that I'm getting back something from Wi-Fi. So I'll be good to go for development and plan to have some one with one of the Build Samsung units do final testing. 

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 3

Once you do final testing you might want to try the external sensor and internal sensor and see which one works best for you.

Best Wishes - Eric 

Answer 4

Will do. I speculate the external will work better. But it will be interesting to see.

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 5

Make sure you download the firmware for the ST board.  You need to request it and this can cause some delays in starting.

Best Wishes - Eric

 

Answer 6

I'm with Eric on this one. They were kinda bitches about getting you the software for the hardware you just bought from them.

Btw. this blogpost I did a while back might be helpful:
http://www.sharpgis.net/post/2011/12/07/Building-an-Augmented-Reality-XAML-control.aspx
Sorry haven't updated the post to Consumer Preview (still dev preview), but you get the idea.

Answer 7

 Morten,

Nice blog post!

Best Wishes - Eric

Answer 8

I'm with Eric on this one. They were kinda bitches about getting you the software for the hardware you just bought from them.

When I first saw Eric's advice to go ahead and "request"  the drivers I have to say I was a little confused. It wasn't because there was anything ambiguous in what he said, but this is the first time I've every come across a system where everything except the drivers is available. Strange. 

I've got the hardware, have tested out my algorithms on Windows Phone, just need the download approval to come through...

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 9

Make sure you download the firmware for the ST board.  You need to request it and this can cause some delays in starting.

 

Any idea on how long it takes them to reply to the requests? I'm two days shy of two weeks and I've not heard anything. I don't know if this is normal or is a sign of something bad. 

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 10

You might put in a second request and reference the first one.

Answer 11

Are there any other solutions for acquiring some type of sensor peripheral for Windows 8?  The experience that I've had thus far has me feeling that the original solution suggested may no longer be a viable option (the experience I've had thus far i described below).  Was this the only company that was selling such hardware? I've tried searching myself and keep encountering the motion sensor integrated circuits but not the peripheral/evaluation boards other than the one suggested above.

• Week 1: I ordered the hardware and requested the drivers through their online form by clicking on "Ask Your Copy"[sic] here: http://www.st.com/internet/evalboard/product/252756.jsp
• Week 2: Having received no response from the original driver request I fill out the form again. Later in the week I contact their support department. Their support department informed me they forward my request to the sales person that would be able to process my driver request. 
• Beginning of week 3: Having heard nothing from said sales person from either the forwarded support request or my own attempts to contact the person I contact support again asking of the status. They informed me they forwarded my request to the wrong person, but have now identified the right person and had forwarded my request. 
• Mid week 3: I e-mailed the person to which my request is said to have been forwarded at 10:47a (he's in my same time zone). Five hours later I make a follow up call to ensure my request was received. The sales person did not received the request from support nor did he receive my e-mail. He had no familiarity with any device for which a driver approval was needed. He said he had no idea who he would need to speak to for initiating approval for such a request. To summarize he is not able to assist with my request. I contacted support again with this information and am now waiting to hear a response. 

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 12

Joel,

Did you get the firmware from the manufacturer yet? 

Best Wishes - Eric

Answer 13

Joel,

Did you get the firmware from the manufacturer yet? 

Best Wishes - Eric

I have them now. For other's thinking about using the device in the future I'd suggest requesting the drivers now. The process seems to be less than streamlined.

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Joel Ivory Johnson | http://www.j2i.net | Windows Phone Developer MVP

It takes all the running you can do to stay in one place.If you want to get somewhere else,you must try to run at least twice as fast as that.

Answer 14

Joel,

Good to hear that you have them.

Best Wishes - Eric