Windows 8 Hardware Control

Here is a compact yet deep technical exploration of controlling Windows 8 hardware in C# programs.

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Sensor Settings

Windows 8 RT and Windows Phone 8 have compatible sensors in

	using Windows.Devices.Sensors;

This replaces the Microsoft.Devices.Sensors API used in Windows Phone OS 7.1.

Inclinometer derives from multiple sensors to return pitch, roll, and yaw values that correspond to rotation angles around the x, y, and z axes

OrientationSensor combines data from other sensors (what Microsft calls "Sensor Fusion") to return a rotation matrix and a Quaternion used to adjust the user's perspective in a game app.

Accelerometer

All phones have one.

Accelerometer returns G-force values with respect to the x, y, and z axes.

SAMPLE: Accelerometer sensor sample

Accuracy of 5 degrees.

Gyroscope

Gyrometer returns angular velocity values with respect to the x, y, and z axes.

// Determine whether device has a gyro:
_gyrometer = Gyrometer.GetDefault();
if( _gyrometer != null){
	// Establish report interval (in milliseconds):
	 gyrometer.ReportInterval = 100;
	_gyrometer.ReadingChanged += _gyrometer_ReadingChanged;
}else{
	MessageBox.Show("No gyrometer found");
}

// Sensor is started by a non-zero report interval:
uint reportInterval = 100;
// To avoid exception if interval is too low:
if( _gyrometer.MinimumReportInterval > reportInterval){
	// Actual report interval is determined by the sensor:
	reportInterval = _gyrometer.MinimumReportInterval;
}
_gyrometer.ReportInterval = reportInterval;

// Sensor is stopped by a zero report interval:
_gyrometer.ReportInterval = 0;

// The preferred method forf apps that updates its user interface at a specific frame rate:
// Sensor polling (instead of changed event handler):
GyrometerReading reading = _gyrometer.GetCurrentReading;

if( reading != null){
	X_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityX);
	Y_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityY);
	Z_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityZ);
}

// Sensor changed event handler (instead of polling):
_gyrometer.reportInterval = 100;
_gyrometer.ReadingChanged += _gyrometer_ReadingChanged;

private void _gyrometer_ReadingChanged(Gyrometer sender, GyrometerReadingChangedEventArgs args){
	Dispatcher.BeginInvoke() => {
		GyrometerReading reading = args.Reading;
		X_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityX);
		Y_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityY);
		Z_Reading.Text = String.Format("{0,5:0.00}", reading.AngularVelocityZ);
	});
}
_gyrometer.ReportInterval = reportInterval;

// Sensor is stopped by a zero report interval:
_gyrometer.ReportInterval = 0;

Compass

Compass returns a heading with respect to True North and possibly Magetic North.

Measures magnetism. Can be significantly affected by metal surrounding the device.

GPS

To determine location.

Some have privacy issues.

Camera

VIDEO: How Do I: Accessing the Camera in a Windows 8 App using HTML and JavaScript

Light Sensor

Proximity Sensor

BLAH: Cannot be programmatically controlled.

SD Card

Windows Phone 8 does not have SD card.

File Sharing

Wi-Fi Direct

Android Hardware Control

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