| Have you ever wondered how an iPod knows when | | | | see an entire web page, control a game using only |
| you flip it or how it can respond to a game you are | | | | your movements or view a photo in the proper |
| playing on the screen? This piece of technology is | | | | aspect ratio. |
| called the accelerometer and it is a vital piece of the | | | | Accelerometer technology also works in connection |
| iPod puzzle. The accelerometer inside the iPod touch | | | | with other devices. For instance, in April 2008, Nike |
| uses three elements; An electrical current, silicon | | | | and iPod teamed up for Nike + iPod. Nike + iPod |
| mass, silicon springs. When these elements are tied | | | | allows you to track your workouts and receive |
| together, they give the user an incredible gaming | | | | progress updates such as distance and calories |
| experience. The silicon springs measure the position | | | | burned through your headphones. A small device is |
| of the silicon mass and cause a fluctuation in the | | | | placed in your shoe and the device interacts with |
| electrical current. The springs do this by gauging | | | | your iPod and allows you to upload your workout |
| where the electrical current is moving through the | | | | statistics into your iTunes library for future use. |
| silicon mass. When the silicon moves, the current | | | | Also, the Nike+iPod combination allows you to create |
| changes and the LCD screen receives a different | | | | customer workouts and can even interact with your |
| signal. This variation then sends a signal to the iPod | | | | workout equipment. Treadmills, elliptical machines and |
| telling it to adjust the game or whatever is on the | | | | stationary bikes made by some of the larger |
| screen. The iPod touch detects when you rotate it | | | | equipment manufacturers, now have the capability to |
| from portrait to landscape and automatically changes | | | | record cardio workouts directly to a users' iPod |
| the display accordingly. By simply flipping the device | | | | device. |
| to a portrait or landscape view, you can immediately | | | | |