Immediately, we begin the information with one thing fairly curious: Do you know that you should use your MacBook trackpad as a scale? Properly, that’s fairly spectacular, don’t you assume so? It’s all potential due to Krish Shah, a Canadian developer and blogger, who launched an experimental macOS software referred to as TrackWeight. The app makes use of the strain sensitivity constructed into the MacBook’s trackpad to estimate weight and is now accessible as open-source software program beneath the MIT License on GitHub.
TrackWeight works by deciphering strain information captured via the Power Contact sensors. Nevertheless, it requires a steady finger contact throughout measurement to keep up the capacitive sensing crucial for operation. Shah notes that whereas this design may barely affect measurement accuracy, the outcomes have confirmed to be “fairly correct” in sensible use.
The app’s performance is supported by a mix of improvement instruments, together with SwiftUI for the person interface and Mix for dealing with information stream. Shah additionally credit current work by developer Takuto Nakamura (@Kyome22) and the Open Multi-Contact Assist library, which permits entry to detailed trackpad contact metrics like place, strain, angle, and density.
I examined the accuracy by placing my MacBook on high of a weighing scale and recording a video whereas including strain, then evaluating frames.
You possibly can see it’s fairly correct! pic.twitter.com/etP8qlrGCh
— Krish Shah (@KrishRShah) July 21, 2025
The app has limitations typical of experimental instruments. It’s most correct with objects weighing just a few tens of grams, and Shah has efficiently examined it with gadgets as heavy as 3.5 kilograms. Nevertheless, utilizing the app to weigh baggage or an individual is strongly discouraged as a result of danger of damaging the laptop computer.
TrackWeight is solely appropriate with MacBook fashions that embrace Power Contact trackpads—particularly, MacBook Professional (2015 or newer) and MacBook (2016 or newer) fashions. Customers should guarantee the article being weighed matches inside the bodily dimensions of the trackpad. Moreover, metallic objects might trigger errors in studying because of false capacitive detection; Shah recommends inserting such gadgets on a paper towel to keep away from misreadings.
Directions for constructing and operating the app can be found on the GitHub web page, however Shah emphasizes that TrackWeight is meant solely for academic and experimental use. It’s not beneficial for business purposes or any context requiring exact or licensed measurements.
In essence, TrackWeight is a intelligent, low-stakes hack that demonstrates the inventive potential of Apple’s {hardware} — pushing the boundaries of what a laptop computer’s trackpad can do, whereas reminding customers to train warning when repurposing units in unintended methods.
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