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Knock Some Commands Into Your Laptop

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wake-up dept.

An anonymous reader writes "For the first time, you can smack your computer and get a meaningful response! An article at IBM Devworks show you how to rap on the laptop case with your knuckles and have commands run on those knocks. Enterprising hackers have developed modules for the Linux kernel to take advantage of laptop integrated accelerometer sensors; with them the possibilities are endless."

9 of 196 comments (clear)

  1. Within moments of this article being posted... by DietCoke · · Score: 5, Funny

    IBM's warranty calls for failed drives shot through the roof.

  2. This is not new by SuperMog2002 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This has been around for months on the MacBook Pro in the form of Smackbook. The user simply hits his MBP to switch desktops. In this case, one of the desktops is running OS X, the other XP via Parallels.

    --
    Sunwalker Dezco for Warchief in 2016
  3. So I can use... by NoseBag · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...my laptop to detect opportunity when it knocks?

    How 'bout compiler engines? Will it detect knocking in them?

    --
    Cloned foods give the statement "We had that last week!" a whole new meaning.
  4. Won't work for me... by x2A · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...usually when I hit my laptop, it's because it's already frozen.

    --
    The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
  5. random sensors..... by eggoeater · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Maybe we should just start putting in different types of random sensors in laptops that can pull data from the emediate environment and see what the hackers can do with them. Some suggestions:

    Gyroscopes for Orientation (pitch,roll,yaw)
    More accelerometers
    Altimeter
    GPS
    External temperature,humidity, pressure
    Pressure sensors (which determine how hard the user is banging on the keyboard in aggrevation).
    Thermal imaging

    --
    $7.95/mo, 200 GB disk, 2TBxfer, MySQL, PHP, RoR.
  6. Thank you for calling IBM Warranty services... by RulerOf · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... What seems to be the problem?

    "Uh, well, I was drunk and I, uh... My screen is cracked."

    --
    Boot Windows, Linux, and ESX over the network for free.
  7. Knock knock! by modecx · · Score: 5, Funny

    knock knock knock smack smack smack knock knock knock

    It looks like you're calling for help.
    Would you like help?
    * Telegraph CQD RAPE RAPE STOP NEED HELP PDQ STOP
    * Just signal your distress without help

    --
    Constitutional rights may be respected, repealed, or modified; but they must never be ignored.
  8. I guarantee.... by gardyloo · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... that everyone's new password will be "shave and a haircut"

  9. Re:multiple desktop switching by Rude+Turnip · · Score: 5, Funny

    The most amusing of the Macbook motion sensor apps is Macsaber, which creates various lightsaber sounds in response to you swinging around your laptop. It's fun for the first 5 minutes until you remember how much your Macbook cost.

    --
    Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!