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Wiimote as Multi-Touch Display Controller
Tmack writes "While hard-hacks with the Wiimote are somewhat old news, this particular implementation is quite interesting. Using the infrared camera on the Wiimote, pens with LEDs instead of ink, and an LCD projector, Johnny Chung Lee of Carnegie Mellon University has created software to use them as a (relatively) cheap multi-touch display. Any surface onto which you can project becomes an interactive multi-touch display, as demonstrated in the video at the link. He has the software available for download, along with some other neat projects.
Lee has also documented another impressive Wiimote hack.
What's this...a way to pass time until the demand for the Wii consoles goes down enough that I don't have to crawl over people to get one? Sign me up!
Oh...the Wiimotes are out of stock too? *walking away, hanging head*
The Wii-mote is actually a sensor that is used as a remote. It doesn't just send a signal, but rather it 'sees' the location of the 'motion detection' bar. In the traditional usage, it has only 1 point that it detects - the bar. But if you have 'many of these bars' the Wiimote is used as a detector of multi-inputs.
I am currently working on using a wii controller as primary pointing-device for my livingroom. The goal is to make it the only device needed to controll the projector + PC i use for DVD, TV, and Music playback in my home. I will post info when i've figured it all out.
Pure awesomenes
or Nintendo predicted a higher demand for the Wiimotes
either
(A) the Wiis are used less for multiplayer than Nintendo expected
or
(B) the Wiimotes have a higher survival rate than Nintendo expected
or
(C) A+B
Self proclaimed typo king, and inventor of the bear destroying coffee table (patent not pending).
My own trival "hack". I'm using Darwiinremote to read xyz accelerometer data and Octave to make/graph ffts of Parkinson's tremors. It's remarkably sensitive!
When Johnny Lee posted his last hack, it seemed like a cool idea to track your fingers in the air, but not all that practical, as was discussed at length. This hack however could actually have very practical applications for discussion and presentation, without the $5000 price tag of many interactive white board products. I'd like to see if anyone ever attempts to implement this in a small business environment, such as a design studio.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
(B) the Wiimotes have a higher survival rate than Nintendo expected
Since this could imply that perhaps Nintendo expected more people to (inadvertently) send their wiimotes crashing through their TVs or sailing across the room...
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
... you see how big/close they are as well, so it's not just position.
Some of the most important innovations are not about making something completely novel but about coming up with creative and more efficient ways of using what we already have. If this hack reproduces 75% of the performance of a commercial product at a fraction of the cost, then this is already a more cost-effective solution for simple touch-screen presentation software. It also puts it well within reach of the at-home user and not something that can only even be considered for large corporate presentations. All of a sudden an 8ft sq canvas for digital art is not out of the question, and it's scalable to a simple laptop as a tablet-pc replacement.
And considering the application he offers is free this can only encourage more experimentation that can lead to even more innovative applications of a relatively cheap and abundant product which is (Nintendo sanctioned or not) becoming more and more of a multi-purpose tool.
semi OT, but...
A few notes if you're having trouble:
First, make sure your IR sources don't confuse the wiimote. Example: Opening my drapes on the window behind the TV on a warm, sunny day, made the wiimote useless.
Second, set the proper height for the "sensor" bar in the Wii console itself. It does make a difference, especially if you have a large TV
Third, make sure your batteries are properly charged. Don't wait for the warning to go to red. When it gets to 1 bar, put the batteries in the recharger.
The "IR Pollution" is the biggest factor affecting the performance of your wiimote, in addition to distance. If you're standing 20ft away, you may wish to get a separate wireless IR emitter ($6 on amazon)that you can mount somewhere closer in your room.
Hope this helps
Check that there are no bright IR light sources nearby. Sunlight and Christmas lights are two common ones that confuse the Wii Remote. Also make sure that your Sensor Bar is far enough forward that it isn't blocked at certain angles.
An easy way to figure things out is to go into the Wii Remote settings screen. There's a black and white image there that effectively shows you exactly what the Wii Remote "sees". You should see a few dots that do not flicker or go away as you move the remote around. If the dots disappear at any point during your tests, you may need to adjust your sensor bar.
If the lights appear to be working okay, but the remote is still confused, try turning down the sensitivity of the remote. That will encourage the remote to ignore light sources other than the sensor bar.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
You can have three paintings on the wall, a phone, a radio and a TV, which all have different IR patterns. Then when you point you Wiimote on the phone painting, the Wii mote will see the pattern and tell your computer what you are pointing at. The computer will then activate the Twinkle (sip) on your computer and you can interface with it.. :-)
Using the motion sensors to answer calls might be a bit awkward (some minutes into the clip).
Oh man I used to throw my 64 controllers in hissy fits of rage. Whoever the fuck had to play as Oddjob every god damn time was nothing short of a cheater! (Yes, the pun was intended!)