Now You Can Hit Your Laptop And It Actually Does Something Knock some sense into your laptop with an HDAPS-aware kernel, an accel

[eDeals.ws 0]

I thought this was interesting, now your beating on your laptop does something useful

For the first time, you can hit your computer and get a meaningful response! Using Linux and the Hard Drive Active Protection System (HDAPS) kernel drivers, you can access the embedded accelerometers on Lenovo (formerly IBMŽ) ThinkPads, then process the accelerometer data to read specific sequences of "knocking" events -- literally rapping on the laptop case with your knuckles -- and run commands based on those knocks. Double tap to lock the screen, and knock in your secret code to unlock. Tap the display lid once to move your mp3 player to the next track. The possibilities are endless.
IBM first intoduced this technology in 2003, originally to protect hard drives if the laptop was dropped. But, thanks to some clever enterprise hackers at IBM, Linux has been modified to take advantage of accelerometers located on ThinkPads. On-screen display orientation, desktop switching, even game control and real-time 3D models of the tilt of the laptop are now available. This time they added a new twist -- knock codes -- and a simple program to run commands when specific knock codes are detected.

Sounds pretty cool to me

Notice from KuBi:

Copied from http://www.ibm.com/us-en/ with various small words altered. Warning issued.

Edited July 31, 2006 by KuBi (see edit history)

[Plenoptic 0]

lol How ever interesting that sounds I think I'll pass. So many people can hear your little knock for your password and I think your the screen would get damaged by this because of overusage. I mean sure it's probably durable but think about it. You enter your password twice a day, five days a week for two years. I don't think thatit would really be able to withstand all that. I think I'll stick with what I have.

[rvalkass 5]

Nice idea, but I can just imagine people sitting in a library or something, all hitting eachother's laptops. You're trying to write an essay and suddenly some wiseguy decides you're gonna start blaring out Pink Floyd, while playing the nearest available DVD and then locks the computer with a special passknock known only to them... It still seems quite cool though.

[fffanatics 0]

Very interesting but depending on how hard you have to hit the laptop for it to pick up a response, the knocks still could be detromental to the rest of the computer. Just because you wont damage the harddrive you could mess up your video card, rom, or even the processor since they are positioned so close to each other inside the case. Good idea but i dont think it is going to be very useful.

[FLaKes 0]

As I was reading I thought it was a joke. I cant believe it really, sounds kind of dumb to tap on the notebook. I would rather stick to the keyboard, I wouldnt want the knock device failing and keeping me out of my system.

[Alexius 0]

Wow. People never actually realized that, like all OS features that are non-Mac, Linux programmers had copied this idea from Apple and their latest MacBook Pro notebook. It contains a sudden motion sensor that detects sudden movement and turns off the harddrive. Programmers had decided to use this so that whenever you "smack" your MacBook, it will change desktops. (Link - http://gizmodo.com/176255/smackbook-pro). Also, there is something known as the MacBook Lightsabre, where this motion sensor can equally be used to create appropriate lightsabre sounds, as if you were swinging around a lightsabre. (Link - http://gizmodo.com/175802/matt-haughey-macsaber-video).

[NightRider 0]

I thought this was interesting, now your beating on your laptop does something useful tongue.gif
For the first time, you can hit your computer and get a meaningful response! Using Linux and the Hard Drive Active Protection System (HDAPS) kernel drivers, you can access the embedded accelerometers on Lenovo (formerly IBMŽ) ThinkPads, then process the accelerometer data to read specific sequences of "knocking" events -- literally rapping on the laptop case with your knuckles -- and run commands based on those knocks. Double tap to lock the screen, and knock in your secret code to unlock. Tap the display lid once to move your mp3 player to the next track. The possibilities are endless.

IBM first intoduced this technology in 2003, originally to protect hard drives if the laptop was dropped. But, thanks to some clever enterprise hackers at IBM, Linux has been modified to take advantage of accelerometers located on ThinkPads. On-screen display orientation, desktop switching, even game control and real-time 3D models of the tilt of the laptop are now available. This time they added a new twist -- knock codes -- and a simple program to run commands when specific knock codes are detected.


Sounds pretty cool to me cool.gif

Sounds pretty dumb,but its original

Notice from Dooga:

Please use the quote tags instead of copying other people's posts.

[Dooga 0]

I think that if we hit the computer, it should have sensors to sense that the person using the computer is pissed, and it should fix the problems NOW...

[beeseven 0]

Wow. People never actually realized that, like all OS features that are non-Mac,

You see this? This is when people stop caring what you think.

[Panzer 0]

If i got a laptop computer i dont see me using it. If you hit your laptop you would either have to hit the sides (and hopefully not pop open the cd/dvd slot) or turn it over and hit it.If you hit the key board who knows what would happen...

[Teragonto 0]

Lol nice way to having a solution for beating up your laptop. Although since I hate most Linux OS's, I might actually try that now. *Goes off in search for a Lenovo laptop with Linux on Ebay...*

[jopak134 0]

a good idea but cannot be that good in reality. too many problems i can see with this one and with just that function, i know the price with double because of the add ons

[vampirewolf3 0]

This seems like it would need a really strong computer, and when I hit my laptop, it's usually because it just lagged me out of a game, so I'm not sure I'd actually use it for the functions.

[LooneyMS 0]

As I was reading I thought it was a joke. I cant believe it really, sounds kind of dumb to tap on the notebook. I would rather stick to the keyboard, I wouldnt want the knock device failing and keeping me out of my system.

I agree with that, what ever happens if the "Knock" system fails? Who can you ever get back into your system? Does it have a backup login so that if you fail "3 times" for example a password enter dialog box appears so that you may type your password in. then again if the "Knock" system fails how might you "Fail" Password Guesses? It should then have a Keyboard shortcut to open that Password entry dialog box, right?

[minimcmonkey 0]

Interesting, yet rather pointless.Surely a few butons would be better. I think that has just been put in place, because the technology is already there.The idea of a "secret knock" sounds stupid, as it can be overheard, and imitated.You could doall kinds of unwanted things to your laptop just by knocking yourlamp on it, or closing it a bit too hard.