At first glance, the Nintendo Wiimote and a whiteboard don’t appear to have much in common. But in the eyes of Johnny Lee of Carnegie Mellon, the two go together like porcelain on steel to create an inexpensive, do-it-yourself electronic whiteboard system. The Wiimote Whiteboard requires some extra assembly on your part, so here are some key items you’ll need:
- A Nintendo Wiimote (MSRP $39.99)
- A Projection screen with your computer desktop projected on it by your primary projector
- Empty ballpoint pen casing with infrared LED installed inside
Once you download the special software and read the instructions on Lee’s project page, you need to connect your Wiimote to your PC via Bluetooth. First, station your Wiimote at a prime spot so the camera hits your screen at an optimal angle from the right distance. Next, turn on your infrared LED pen, touch certain points on the screen to activate the writable area, and start writing. The Wiimote’s infrared camera tracks the light from your infrared LED pen and enables you to spread your message on the projection screen. See the video above and read the project page for more details.
The main benefit of Lee’s creation comes in its ability to turn almost any surface such as a projection screen, table, desk or wall into an inexpensive, full-fledged electronic whiteboard. On the other hand, the tracking resolution is lower, which makes writing slower and less precise than on a traditional whiteboard or electronic copyboard. Either way, the Wiimote Whiteboard provides a prime example of how a little ingenuity and know-how can go a long way.
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