Perimeter turns the desk around a laptop into four tap buttons
Perimeter is a macOS app that uses a laptop’s built-in microphone to tell where someone tapped the desk. Taps in different places sound slightly different, allowing four invisible buttons to be placed around the laptop. Each button can open Gmail, play or pause media, launch an app, run an automated command, or put a screenshot on the clipboard.
Setup takes about a minute and involves tapping each chosen spot several times so the app can learn the desk. A built-in accuracy test checks whether the spots can be identified reliably. Sound is analyzed on the device and immediately discarded, with nothing stored or sent elsewhere.
It works best on rigid surfaces such as solid wood or laminate, while results on glass can be inconsistent. The buttons should control safe, repeatable tasks rather than risky actions such as sending an email. It is currently packaged as a macOS , and its is available by direct request.
Key points
- The built-in microphone distinguishes taps made in different areas of a desk.
- Four desk zones can control app launches, media, , and automated commands.
- Training takes about a minute, and an accuracy test checks the result.
- Audio is processed on the device, discarded immediately, and never stored or uploaded.
- Rigid desks work best, and actions that could cause harm if triggered accidentally should be avoided.