The age of sensors - How MEMS sensors will enable the next wave of new products.

Abstract

This paper covers a brief history of MEMS and the current status of mainstream MEMS sensors, then goes on to discuss how the availability of these low cost ubiquitous sensors is enabling several major market inflections. These inflections often require complete ecosystems to be developed, from unique technologies that enable new capabilities at the component level, to disruptive new services for end customers. However, value is disproportionally captured by companies supplying the end service, and not by those supplying the core fundamental components. The fact that relatively low cost “commodity” parts can enable these inflections and help create massive new value underlines the challenges being faced by many semiconductor companies. To drive growth, component suppliers need to find a way to capture more value from the inflections they enable.