Accelerometers Increase Usability of Devices

An accelerometer is a device that detects not only movement but can also detect and measure tilt, shock and vibration. Accelerometers were originally used in mobile phones to detect the phone’s orientation when held, for the purpose of displaying images or screen content in landscape or portrait format as the phone is rotated.   More recent applications using accelerometer technology allows for monitoring of physically gestures, interactive games, simulations (sword fighting), the control of external devices (cars, toys and robots) and useful tools (spirit level).  Development of new accelerometer-based applications will provide ever expanding applications to facilitate increasing levels of usability for these devices. 

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