Share your specs for a successful WiiMote Whiteboard

Last year I began toying with a WiiMote Whiteboard. I got it up and running but was never satisfied with the accuracy or sensitivity. I've watched videos of it online at the response is darn near 1:1 if not perfect. I wasn't getting that.

There are two possible issues I see with my set up. I either had a bad pen or my PC wasn't up to par. I'd like to know what combination of pens/PC power people are using to get successful set ups.

I don't think it was my pen but I'd still like to see what people are using. I really want to get this up and running this year and I think this is a smart way to go about it.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Grigalunas on September 4, 2009 at 6:09pm

I am also attempting to make this usable in my classroom.

I have found that projecting onto a large surface such as a wall (instead of a standard projector screen) decreases the necessity for pinpoint accuracy. I also moved the IR light to the end of the pen (like an eraser) to minimize my hand getting in the way of the light. This has caused a slight problem in that the pen changing position in my hand can throw off the calibration a little bit and cause those accuracy problems.

As far as PC horsepower goes, the software isn't too taxing on the system and i think accuracy and sensitivity has more to do with the IR light getting to the wiimote.

I am going to experiment with a fingertip IR using a rubber letter sorter fingertip and placing the IR light there. I'll let you know how it goes.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Dickie on September 5, 2009 at 4:58am

I've had good luck with the Java whiteboard software on my Macbook, but not when I boot it to Windows. In Windows it would lag (a lot) when I tried to write on the screen.

When I boot my Macbook to Windows Smoothboard works great.

The LED choice in you pen makes a Huge difference. I started with a miscellaneous bag of 10 or so LEDs and only one of them proved to be bright enough. Ones scavenged from or tv remotes don't seem to be bright enough. Lately I've just been using the Vishay Semiconductors TSAL6400 ($0.30+ship from Mouser), which is the one recommended by Johnny Lee. The dimmer LEDs will often allow for clicking on the screen but not dragging. When trying to write you get broken lines.

I put together a page of everything I've managed to figure out about how to set things up that you can check out if you're interested for a Workshop last year. I haven't checked anything over the summer so there may have been some updates in software, but it might be a good place to start. http://wiimote.flosscience.com/