Difference between revisions of "ThinkLight"

From ThinkWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(GAIM notification)
(Applications)
Line 22: Line 22:
 
===Applications===
 
===Applications===
 
*'''gaim-thinklight''': If you are using [http://gaim.sf.net GAIM], the [http://www.joachim-breitner.de/blog/archives/38-Created-gaim-thinklight.html gaim-thinklight] plugin will enable you to use the ThinkLight as an indicator for new messages. This depends on [[ibm-acpi]].
 
*'''gaim-thinklight''': If you are using [http://gaim.sf.net GAIM], the [http://www.joachim-breitner.de/blog/archives/38-Created-gaim-thinklight.html gaim-thinklight] plugin will enable you to use the ThinkLight as an indicator for new messages. This depends on [[ibm-acpi]].
 +
*'''gaim-lighthink''': [http://www.chris-lamb.co.uk/code/gaim-lightthink/ gaim-lightthink] is an alternative to gaim-thinklight.
 
*'''rocklight''': [http://hunz.org/ rocklight] is a xmms visualization plugin that makes the ThinkLight flash to the beat of your music. The package also includes a standalone stroboscope mode program.
 
*'''rocklight''': [http://hunz.org/ rocklight] is a xmms visualization plugin that makes the ThinkLight flash to the beat of your music. The package also includes a standalone stroboscope mode program.
  

Revision as of 03:49, 29 January 2006

ThinkLight

The ThinkLight is a little LED light integrated into the top edge of the display frame in the A, R, T, X, Z and i Series ThinkPad models. It illuminates the ThinkPad's keyboard so that one can type in the dark without using an external light source. The ThinkLight can be controlled via the FnPageUp key combination or via ACPI on some of the newer models. Note that the ThinkLight is not available on the G series ThinkPads.

Linux Support

Controlling the ThinkLight with the keyboard works on all systems since it relies on the BIOS exclusively. Just press FnPageUp to toggle its state between on and off.

Software Control via ibm-acpi

Support for controlling the light with ACPI is provided by ibm-acpi. After installing it, a simple

# echo on > /proc/acpi/ibm/light

switches it on and a

# echo off > /proc/acpi/ibm/light

switches it off again.

This allows one to control the light in scripts. Unfortunately, no known ThinkPad comes with a light sensor (yet). ;)

Applications

  • gaim-thinklight: If you are using GAIM, the gaim-thinklight plugin will enable you to use the ThinkLight as an indicator for new messages. This depends on ibm-acpi.
  • gaim-lighthink: gaim-lightthink is an alternative to gaim-thinklight.
  • rocklight: rocklight is a xmms visualization plugin that makes the ThinkLight flash to the beat of your music. The package also includes a standalone stroboscope mode program.

Models featuring this Technology