(Mis)using the Sudden Motion Sensor

Or make your MacBook go “Moof!”

The Sudden Motion Sensor built into all MacBook and MacBook Pro computers, and some PowerBook G4 and iBook G4 computers, detects — as its name suggests — sudden motion, vibrations, sudden changes in position or accelerated movement. Normally this is used to sense if the computer is dropped, in which case it triggers tiny airbags cunningly hidden all around the exterior of the case to cushion the fall. Okay, so it just parks the hard drive heads to reduce the risk of damage to the hard drive. But airbags would have been cool. And a parachute.

Anyway… many applications have been written to take advantage of the information returned by the Sudden Motion Sensors:

But what I want is an application that detects when the MacBook has been turned upside down, and for it to then play the “Moof!” sound in a manner similar to children’s 'cow-in-a-tub’ toys.