Making Sense of Sensors

There’s a few things ACA really hates:

1. Bad Coffee
2. Bad Music
3. Useless Apps
4. Useless Sensors

If you’d like to learn more about why we don’t like useless apps, Jon recently wrote a piece about Vanity Apps, and Landell recently wrote a piece about Platforms Vs Apps. Long story short - apps are normally only good at doing one thing on their own. This is compared to platforms, like ACAEngine, that are built from the ground up to integrate with the environment that surrounds them.

This article will focus on one of the pet hates above - Sensors. When most people think of a  Smart Workplace it is a room of building filled with physical sensors. Like desk sensors to tell when you’re at your desk or light sensors to tell if the light is on. 

The big problem here is that they’re only telling you this because they’re trying to sell you those sensors, and there are lots of ways you can have a great smart workplace (or smart building) without physical sensors, that are expensive and annoying to install, and expensive and annoying to maintain. 

Yesterday I spoke about the technical aspects of this at Integrate Conference in Melbourne (and if you didn’t make the talk, they key points are here).

Some sensors are useful, but a lot of the time you can get the same (or better!) results with existing hardware. Make the most of what you already have, and then make informed decisions about anything you might need to add.

Lots of vendors will shape the conversation around hardware, because that’s what they want you to buy. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy any tech at all - it’s important to realise this is happening, so you can stay on track towards your goal.

Shape your conversations around the employee experience and the problems you're trying to solve, and make sure any hardware you're buying helps to solve those problems.