It's all well and good to hear the mechanics of what an accelerometer is, but how are they useful? What can I do with an accelerometer or what kind of projects might use an accelerometer? Let's go over some uses which may align with what you're looking to do in your projects.

Movement Detection

Any change in the location of the accelerometer chip will be registered as changes in the values it sends out. You can use the fact that the numbers registered have changed to detect a movement, or poll the x, y, and z values and make calculations as to in what direction the motion has taken place and by how much it has moved.

If a project wants to detect any movement or measure a movement, an accelerometer is perfect.

If you are looking for a specific location to where something has moved, an accelerometer will not provide that data, a GPS unit would be a better sensor for exact location data.

Types of projects:

• Sparkle Skirt / Wearable Activation with Movement
• Room Door Opening Detection
• Object/Diary Movement
• Electronic Computer Mouse, movement and tapping
• Detecting Turning Left or Right
• Making Music through Movement
• Activation of Something on Start or Stop
• Bump Detection, for example in robotics or safety
• Light Saber Projects

What's Up and Down

If you need to figure out whether something is oriented the right way with respect to the ground, an accelerometer works fine.

To do so, the accelerometer needs to be oriented so that any movement will be in two directions. With a bit of math, you can calculate "up" and "down" relative to the earth.

Types of Projects:

• Electronic Compass 
• "Dialing" a safe combination
• Inclinometer - how high is a distant object?