The playback device makes particular use of the simplified operating concept described in WO 2015/104222A1, WO 2017/129349A1. The basic idea of this concept is to use a sensor as part of the playback device which can detect a property or a change of a property of this environment within a range of its environment, and to provide a control unit which can perform the desired control if the sensor detects a certain property or a certain change of a property of this environment within the range of its environment. A playback device comprising this sensor and this control unit and a method using such a sensor and such a control unit result in a particularly simple operation. For the reproduction of the desired information it may suffice, according to embodiments of the disclosure, to give the environment a certain property detectable by the sensor or to make a change in the property of this environment detectable by the sensor and thus—in a particular and preferred embodiment of the disclosure—directly affect the reproduction of the desired information or the execution of the software.