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The German AMA Fachverband für Sensorik (Metrology Association) polled approximately 7000 persons, mostly visitors and exhibitors at the Sensor+Test fair in Nuremburg, Germany on their attitude to the use of the media. Of the approximately 500 answering participants, 71% said they were active for manufacturers. A third of them worked in the sensor and metrology fields, almost 20% in the automobile industry, 13% in machine and plant construction and almost 10% in the electronic industry.

Two thirds of the answers came from the research and development segment. The most often source of information for developers is the Internet, followed by personal contacts, visits to fairs and articles in technical journals. Social networks came last and do not seem to play a role in the segments of research and development.

Behind the usefulness of the different sources of information the most important sources were technical conversations and technical lectures. Also relevant were contributions on a technical basis and application-oriented product reports. Banner adverts and webinars were found to be of little use.