Message communication of sensor and other data

A method of providing information to a program, the method comprising:

• using a processor to perform acts comprising:
• receiving, from said program, a request to subscribe to notifications from a service;
• at said service, using a programming interface to obtain a reading from a sensor, said programming interface being provided by an operating system that is present at a machine that comprises said processor, said sensor being physically detached from said machine;
• creating a message that is based on a set of one or more sensor readings, wherein said set comprises said reading;
• and
• providing said message to said program.

A machine for providing information to an application, the machine comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor;
• and
• executable instructions that are stored in said memory, that execute on said processor, that receive, from said application, a subscription request, that use a sensor interface to obtain a reading from a sensor that is physically disassociated from said machine, said sensor interface comprising software that provides a mechanism through which sensor values are readable by programs that use said sensor interface, and that create a message based on a set of one or more readings, wherein said set comprises said reading.