Multiple sensing system and device

A distributed sensing system in a networked environment for identifying an analyte, said system comprising:

• a first sensor array connected to said network comprising sensors capable of producing a first response in the presence of a chemical stimulus;
• a second sensor array or single sensor connected to said network comprising sensors capable of producing a second response in the presence of a physical stimulus, wherein each sensor of said second sensor array or said single sensor is an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, a radiation sensor, a thermal sensor or combinations thereof;
• a computer connected to said network;
• a computer readable algorithm for execution by said computer, said computer readable algorithm comprising:
• (1) instructions for indicating or selecting the most relevant sensor modality to use within each sensor array for a particular application in said network, or
• (2) instructions for comparing a combination of said first response and said second response with combinations of responses of a particular analyte or mixture of substances that are known so as to identify an unknown analyte.

A method for transferring a combination of chemical and physical data over a computer network for identification of an analyte, said method comprising:

• transmitting sensory data from a first sensor array comprising sensors capable of producing a first response in the presence of a chemical stimulus to a remote location;
• transmitting physical data from a second sensor array or single sensor comprising sensors capable of producing a second response in the presence of a physical stimulus to a remote location, wherein each sensor of said second sensor array or single sensor is an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, a radiation sensor, a thermal sensor or combinations thereof;
• and
• processing said sensory and physical data at said remote location, wherein said processing comprises:
• (1) indicating or selecting the most relevant sensor modality to use within each sensor array for a particular application in said network, or
• (2) comparing said first response and said second response with known combinations of responses so as to identify an unknown analyte.