Sensors for interfacing with consumer electronics

Purpose The paper aims to describe the sensors used for interfacing with consumer electronic devices. Design/methodology/approach The paper describes the types of sensors employed in user‐interface devices such as trackballs, mice, touch pads, touch screens and gesture‐based systems. It concludes with a brief consideration of brain‐computer interface technology. Findings It is shown that a diverse range of sensors is used to interface with consumer electronics. They are based on optical, electrical, acoustic and solid‐state (MEMS) technologies. In the longer term, many may ultimately be replaced by sensors that interpret thought by detecting brain waves. Originality/value The paper provides a timely review of the sensors used to interface with consumer electronics. These constitute a very large and rapidly growing market.