Wiimote repurposed for multi-point interactive whiteboard

While certainly there's been no shortage of Wiimote hacks, the number of genuinely useful ones has been considerably more limited. It looks like you can now add one more to that list, however, as Johnny Chung Lee (he of the Wiimote finger-tracking hack) has now upped the usefulness even further with a makeshift multi-point interactive whiteboard. There's a bit more involved with this one than just a Wiimote, however -- namely, an IR-emitting pen (or two), which the Wiimote tracks while relaying all the necessary information back to a PC. That, as the video after the break shows, allows you to turn any surface into a multi-point whiteboard with the use of a projector, or turn any LCD screen into a touchscreen, of sorts. Best of all, Johnny has kindly provided the necessary software free of charge, so hit up the read link below if you want to give it a shot.

[Via Hack a Day]

[Buckbell @ May 25th 2008 8:25PM]

For those of you who want to try out the WiiMote Whiteboard Project but does not want to build your own pen, you can buy one on ebay (just search "infrared pen"). It is your ideal pen but it works perfectly for this project.

[buckbell @ May 25th 2008 8:28PM]

This is the IR Pen I found on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Infrared-IR-LED-light-pen-with-momentary-switch_W0QQitemZ250251731631QQihZ015QQcategoryZ73340QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[kasted @ Jul 8th 2008 12:49PM]

if you cant make an ir pen or you need more than 1 - i found a site that sells them - http://infraredpens.com/

[Abram @ Sep 12th 2008 9:39PM]

I got my pen from this site. great build quality, bright LED, and good customer service. Recommended.

[David Fountain @ Jan 7th 2009 1:38PM]

We make three versions of an IR pen - one with both manual and tip pressure switches. www.irpens.co.uk

[ellen.frentec @ Jul 23rd 2009 12:27AM]

we are interactive whiteboard manufacturer and educational lab software developer in China.
Interactive whiteboard classifications: portable system; front-mount system; wall mounted system; projector mounted system; rear projection system.
Lab software ( for middle school and high middle school) : maths, chemistry, physics.
If any one interested in , please add my MSN: [e-mail], Skype: luoxiping2004

[ellen.frentec @ Jul 23rd 2009 12:32AM]

we are interactive whiteboard manufacturer and educational lab software developer in China.
Interactive whiteboard classifications: portable system; front-mount system; wall mounted system; projector mounted system; rear projection system.
Lab software ( for middle school and high middle school) : maths, chemistry, physics.
If any one interested in , please add my MSN: [e-mail], Skype: luoxiping2004

[Stephanie F @ Oct 6th 2009 8:29AM]

The latest Smoothboard now features autoconnect mode to the computer using just MS Bluetooth Stack. Try it out at http://www.smootboard.net.

[Lenny @ Nov 9th 2009 9:08PM]

Wrote an article about this on my blog, except mine is about using it to create a 3D Virtual Environment. Check it out!

http://everybodyloveslen.com/Blog/2009/11/08/guys-turn-office-building-lights-into-giant-pacman-game/#comment-15131

[imacmatt09 @ Dec 10th 2007 12:37PM]

That's amazing! I might go buy a Wiimote just for this.

[cap'n @ Dec 10th 2007 12:47PM]

bravo!

[hp540 @ Dec 10th 2007 12:56PM]

Great hack!

[Robert Abramson @ Dec 10th 2007 2:13PM]

why not just use a normal infrared camera?

[Tetra @ Dec 10th 2007 2:41PM]

"why not just use a normal infrared camera?"
Because you won't find a battery powered bluetooth wireless infrared camera for $40.

[Joseph @ Dec 10th 2007 2:43PM]

I believe an infrared camera costs a lot more than $40. Plus the camera probably wouldn't have coordinate mapping already built in.

[darkstar @ Dec 10th 2007 1:14PM]

this is awesome!!!!
i m gonna built one. but i dont know what i'ld use it for though. lol

[Jonathan @ Dec 10th 2007 1:19PM]

I don't have a projector so the video only started getting awesome at 3 minutes in. That would be *perfect* for being able to mark things up on my laptop screen.

[w @ Dec 10th 2007 1:21PM]

this is great.

well done johnny.

[tom @ Dec 10th 2007 1:28PM]

+1 to johnny boy!

[Rich White @ Dec 10th 2007 1:32PM]

Now throw in Edusim - http://edusim3d.com - We like cheap/Free ! -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVFsxev-2sk

=====

[Daniel @ Dec 10th 2007 2:29PM]

It would be really cool if you made the LED so that when you put pressure on it by pushing down on the tabletop it would trigger a switch to turn the LED on. You could use a normal infrared camera but then you would have to write tracking software and build hardware to drive it. The Wiimote provides all that for you.

[ChaoticTails @ May 9th 2008 1:26AM]

My sis had one of those UV light Care bears where they glow in the dark after you draw on them with the light. Happily hacked :)

[Nicky-Larson @ Dec 10th 2007 2:50PM]

Awesome, I am going to try this. Gush, this is a Super hack...

Way to go Johnny

[Todd @ Dec 10th 2007 3:13PM]

For the life of me I can not find any instructions online for creating the IR pens...anyone know of a good DIY site for them?

[Fmunkey @ Dec 10th 2007 6:07PM]

All you have you have to do is use the pen case like he showed, connect wires to a battery, IR led, and use a momentary (I believe that is the term)to close the circuit when pressed. That should be all.

[athousandleaves @ Dec 10th 2007 3:15PM]

hmmmm Rhy-Ming Poon and Johnny Chung Lee all in one day?

[Deathpony @ Dec 10th 2007 3:37PM]

just bought a wiimote and bluetooth dongle for this, cant wait to use this with my 20 inch widescreen :D

[repdetect2 @ Dec 10th 2007 8:41PM]

so how are you building your pen?

[Deathpony @ Dec 10th 2007 8:48PM]

Im going to use the infrared led inside an old remote but im not sure if its going to be enough powerful. If it is il use some AAAA batteries on ebay that should fit in a pen.if its not i could buy some powerful ones on ebay.

[SDreams @ Dec 10th 2007 5:47PM]

That's so effing cool. I'm going to try making my own pens some days, that's too cool to pass up.

[Sherman Dorn @ Dec 10th 2007 6:57PM]

Wow. If someone can port this to linux, that can make the XO a tablet pad.

[TK CHAN @ Dec 20th 2007 2:42AM]

YOU DID A GOOD DEMO FOR THE TEENAGE WHAT A GREAT IDEA AND USE A GOOD THING TO DO THE NEW THING! GREAT GREAT JOB!

[repdetect2 @ Dec 10th 2007 8:37PM]

So is there a tutorial on how to go about building an ir led pen?

[klew @ Dec 10th 2007 10:18PM]

Brilliant. For IR pens, one reasons you just use those keychain LED flashlights for $2 at the gas station (squeeze to activate).

[ssowy @ Dec 10th 2007 10:25PM]

I just tried this now, using an apple remote and a projector. It works great!!! I didn't even had to install BlueSoleil. Worked fine with my laptop's bluetooth drivers.

Great job!

[Adam K @ Dec 10th 2007 11:47PM]

This guy is effing incredible. I looked at his videos last time he was on Engadget (for the finger-tracking wiimote), and they're all amazing.

Can I hire him for a birthday party?

[mscofield @ Dec 11th 2007 5:39AM]

Could anyone make a quick tutorial of how to make the pen etc.?
I know most of you find it a simple job, please help me. :-)
Thanks in adv!

[Ayle @ Dec 11th 2007 1:08PM]

Here's what I think you need:
1 Infrared led( easily found in remotes)
1 Switch
3 Wires
Something to connect it to the battery
Casing, I was thinking about using a laser pointer casing.

Solder 2 wires to the 2 feet of the led, solder the other end of 1 of the wires to one end of the switch, connect the unused wire the other end of the switch and to the power source, connect the 2nd wire from the led to the power source and you're done. That's the way the circuit should be but I may have overlooked something...

[Ayle @ Dec 11th 2007 1:09PM]

Here's what I think you need:
1 Infrared led( easily found in remotes)
1 Switch
3 Wires
Something to connect it to the battery
Casing, I was thinking about using a laser pointer casing.

Solder 2 wires to the 2 feet of the led, solder the other end of 1 of the wires to one end of the switch, connect the unused wire the other end of the switch and to the power source, connect the 2nd wire from the led to the power source and you're done. That's the way the circuit should be but I may have overlooked something...

[gt2378b @ Dec 12th 2007 1:37AM]

Wii... have a meeting. :)

[Typhoid Mary @ Dec 12th 2007 11:21AM]

Amazing! And pretty simple too.

Johnny is my God-Of-The-Day.

[VasR @ Dec 12th 2007 5:09PM]

I got the Wiimote to connect to my Toshiba laptop using the integrated Bluetooth and it comes up as a Joystick profile. For some reason the application wasn't recognizing the Wiimote. I then tried a DLINK Bluetooth dongle with the Blue Soliel and it also connected fine. The app still doesn't see the Wiimote. I also tried another Wiimote app that does the same thing. Is the Wiimote particular about certain bluetooth modules or a cetain rev of the HID profile? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
VasR

[VasR @ Dec 17th 2007 11:42PM]

I created a tutorial on how to make an IR Pen. You can view the tutorial at
http://www.terracode.com/IR_Pen/DIY_IR_Pen.html

[Joe @ Dec 21st 2007 4:29PM]

Check out Johnny's new video on using the Wiimote for head tracking on YouTube. Pretty nifty.

[Kelly @ Jan 9th 2008 10:47PM]

As far as we know, the price of interactive whiteboard is much expensive for ordinary people buying in current market, and not all classroom could use the expensive interactive whiteboard, although the function is such amazing. Anyway, a novel interactive whiteboard--projector genius is every economic for buyers to own, while combined with PC, and any kind of projector, it could be operate with only common flat board, wall , and with remote pointer, it could even work on the curtain.

Main Features:
1.Lightweight/portable
2.Easy operating.
3.Powerful and stable whiteboard software.
4.High Effective Resolution: 9600×4800，300dpi.
5.Big written size: Can be up to 150inch.

If any friends want to know more details about this novel interactive whiteboard, pls add me my MSN: [e-mail] for discussing.

Kelly

[wiiDice @ Jan 10th 2008 1:06AM]

Just letting everyone know that if your looking for the support forums for Johnny Lee's Wiimote Projects go here

Its his official support forums
http://www.wiimoteproject.com