Motion-Sensitive Laptop Developed
From: BBC News - 04/30/2007

BT's research labs is developing the BT Balance, a type of tablet laptop
capable of responding to movement controls and designed to help people with
disabilities or the elderly who may have difficulty moving the mouse or
keyboard. BT researcher David Chatting said the objective is to create a
machine that is as easy to use as an Etch-A-Sketch. The BT Balance can be
used to read books or documents, flipping the monitor to tell the computer to
turn the page, or navigate a map by tilting the computer up for north, down
for south, right for east, and left for west. BT says the system could be
useful for someone using their laptop in tricky conditions or with one hand,
such as a crowded train. BT Balance works through the use of an
accelerometer, which works be detecting changes in the acceleration and
gravity of an object compared to the static gravity of the earth.
Accelerometers are used in cars to detect accidents and inflate the airbag,
and in devices such as the Nintendo Wii controller and Apple computers to
detect when the laptop is being dropped. BT has combined an accelerometer
with software to interpret the data and control the cursor and programs.
Chatting said the project is still a research project, as BT is interested in
developing communication tools for BT Balance so users can create messages
and perform common day-to-day tasks. 

Read the entire article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6609245.stm

Links:
BT Balance Images
http://imagelibrary.btplc.com/assetbank-btplc/action/viewAsset?id=749
http://www.billypix.net/BTBalance/

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David J. Chatting
http://homepage.mac.com/dave_chatting/BT/