Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and for recognizing impacts by measuring changes in impedance. The device comprises a sensor (6) and an external electronic system (10) which permanently monitors the impedance of the sensor. After a learning period, the electronic system records the impedance of the apparatus at rest, after which, whenever the sensor is subjected to an external action (9), its impedance varies at a certain rate of change, thereby enabling the electronic system to detect the derivative of the rate of change of the impedance, or in a different application to detect the pure change in impedance, and transmit a signal to a user (16).