Low-Cost Multi-touch Whiteboard using the Wiimote

[@Undeemiss]

11 years old, and still one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Props to you!

[@blockblastergaming]

Same of me, now 16 years later

[@ozgurkarter4368]

17 years old and still one of the coolest things that can be done with the wii remotes.

[@johnspringer9275]

This has come a long way since then with newer versions of the same idea like Smoothboard which integrated iPad use. Been doing stuff with this for the last decade in classrooms and now the maker space I run. Mega props Johnny Lee.

[@adihrespati]

Genius and generous. You're lethal, man. I'm showing this to the whole teaching staff at my campus, all my students. We're giving it a try tomorrow. Thanks man!

[@lizsantiago]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS FREE!! i am a teacher with little to no resources and just found this, installed and tested it... i cant wait to try it in august with my students. may god bless you with wealth and health for every live you are helping.

[@Connorplayer123]

Do you still use it if you’re still teacher

[@Ahmx501_]

dude you are a genius i am going to try this on my lcd television this makes me one hell of a drawing board

[@grandmage1925]

I tried this 15 years ago when I was 13. It worked and I followed your video

[@phoneguy1015]

I also tried this 15 years ago.

[@grandmage1925]

@phoneguy1015 this guy was a genius of his time

[@renzoalvau]

you are one my favourite persons in the world.

[@soxfan19812]

Making Technology accessible to those without resources is AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SERVICES. PLEASE KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

[@Tabish3304]

2:53 which software is it where can i find it

[@dannymosquito]

Genius - Brilliant... You never cease to amaze me with what you can do with a WII remote

[@midwestspleeno]

this is amazing, u rock dude!

[@davidmichaelgurney]

this is bloody brilliant. the possibilities of using this technology is incredible. this is actually a much better use for the wiimote than playing the wii where the tracking resolution is too low to be really impressive.

[@loganchristensen1545]

I got it to do the callibration, but then nothing happens after that. I click and it shows 1 IR dot visible, but it doesn't emulate mouse control. Cursor Control box is checked.

[@audraalfonzo]

I'm having the same issue. Did someone answered you? or Did you figure it out yourself?

[@loganchristensen1545]

audra alfonzo-westphal i did get it to work eventually, but I don't remember how. Try running it as administrator

[@kaelkramer1259]

same problem...

[@4x4forlyfe]

Wow, I could listen to you for hours talk about something like this lol. The way you describe everything is just so.......perfect. Amazing video. Definitely deserves the 3 million views its gotten, plus more.

[@UnknownDante]

You are some kind of sorcerer..

[@jaimetheone9150]

WHAT SORCERY IS THIS???

[@debbiemrobichaud3535]

This was awesome. Unfortunately, your website is now inaccessible. I have tried multiple ways of accessing your website, but it seems that all browsers are preventing anyone from accessing your site. I originally learned about the whiteboard hack from an educator's demo and it took a great deal of effort to locate any info. I have just started my own 1 person business in Taiwan, as a retired teacher from Canada, and wanted a smartboard but the costs are astronomical. I'm only teaching workshops with 4-6 children out of my home, so this has been an awesome tool for me. Thank you so much for creating such a useful tool!!!

[@AttackoftheLuls]

2:40 You blew up my mind O.O

[@ysfhero]

We really appreciate what your doing here Jonny. seriously.

[@poptya]

So Johnny, did you ever make millions of dollars off this

[@christopher5151]

poptya It is not about the money, it is about being innovative

[@nativesun7661]

Johnny Chung Lee is a COMPLETE Human Being. and one of the smarter people that this network called the internet has allowed us to witness. Just go check out his blog. See the different things this guy has done. The things he's been doing. Or just what he's interested in. Just the "Kutiman Thru- You" link alone is enough for me to book- mark, Stumble & Digg everything Mr. Lee puts on the web. Good Work Man.

[@RmaNYouTube]

This channel feels like watching Lost Science. Like Seeing pyramids being built with advanced technologies in the past.

[@mechacode]

WOW. I'm amazed and intrigued, two things that rarely, if ever, happen. Kudos to you Mr. Lee!

[@voidless1]

Johnny Lee, I love you! Thanks for sharing your ideas with us and showing us these new developments. We appreciate it a lot! Thanks, Johnny Lee!

[@Shakespeare1612]

Ebbe, you are correct in that you can point the Wii remote at anything and it will still happily send coordinates back to the computer, however, using it with a projector is great because you have immediate feedback and it "feels" like you are actually drawing on a regular whiteboard. This has applications for light shows and other real time special effects. It is not just a mouse on a wall, but it is AT LEAST that.

[@Leafyfpv]

Props! this was such a great inspiration to come across ten years ago, today a separate subject led me back to another classic work of yours.. looking more into 3d, vr type displays.. some sorta physical see through, vs augmented see through

[@alanstringer.]

How tf does this not have a billion views? WHO DOESN'T WANT THIS?

[@QuaabQueb]

you are nothing short of a genius , you get my nobell for creativity. I am defiantly doing this. Thank you for this video.

[@rlcuda]

You could place the remote behind the screen, provided the screen is at least semi-transparent; then use a fish-eyed lens to allow the remote to be closer to the screen, and a mirror to transpose the image back to the original. Not sure if that calibration would handle a fish-eyed perspective, however. Also, you could probably rig something so that an infrared light is always shining on the back of the screen, but only reflects where the screen deforms when touched.

[@272Boii]

this is fantastic... I've been wanting an interactive whiteboard for my classroom for ages but in the mean time this will be fantastic!

[@eyobin2]

I remember doing this at 21 when he first came out with it, best thing ever.

[@geosky19]

With a big enough desk, this is all you need to make drawing or doing anything easier. This is why I want to learn about electronics so much.

[@Shakespeare1612]

Smoothboard has a presenter mode, that lets you use an IR source (an IR LED turned on all the time) as an anchor point. You can then pick up the Wii remote and use it like a laser pointer. That is it works just like it does for the Wii Menus, on the Wii game system. It can move the mouse around the screen and activate buttons.

[@AHeroRising]

@PizzleUK yes, there is a clear difference. infrared waves are transmitted by a significantly higher wavelength than LED light, and we cannot perceive infrared light with our eyes.

[@Shakespeare1612]

Ineya, you could easily adapt is to an LCD screen. The Wii-remote just needs to see ANY rectangular area that would like to use as a mousing surface. Just be careful not to scratch your screen, as IR pens are made of hard plastic. They are not just a finger.

[@Shakespeare1612]

No, you do not have to touch the display surface, except maybe when calibrating, so that your calibration is precise, and accurate. Other than that, you can hold you IR pen in mid air and turn it on with a button. The only thing is that the Wii-remote IR camera must see the light that comes from your IR pen.

[@Aitamen]

You could, yes, to simulate something like a wacom, if you were to mark the four screenpoint on the desk itself (so you could still calibrate it successfully), he just has it set up to display the calibration marks on the screen for ease of use.

[@SteveoFilipino]

I have an idea. You can create a glove with infrared lights at the fingertips. Instead of having to hold switch. The infrared lights at the tip of the fingers would be activated by the extension of the fingers. Say if the finger is extended in to a more straight fashion, the light will turn on. But say if they are curled, the lights turned off. That gives the user ultimate control, and its intuitive because when we touch things we usually extend our fingers.

[@Shakespeare1612]

Yes. almost all interactive white board software presents you with this calibration screen when you first install in, or when you call it up again.

[@Shakespeare1612]

You can double click but clicking twice. Just be careful not to move your pen in between clicks. You may also be able to adjust your operating system to make it less sensitive to small movements.

[@falken1981]

The wiimote doesn't need the projector to know where you click on the screen. So the projector / laptop is only for yourself to know where you click. You could look at a laptop while interacting with an empty wall that the wiimote is pointed at.

[@ksanv19]

Thank you Johnny for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@yondaime500]

so basically you get the wii remote to detect where the pen is when you push the light and tell the computer you "clicked" there, so you can use it as a mouse. Very clever. I think I might buy a wii remote to try that out. Looks pretty cool.

[@gesaugen]

I'm fascinated that literally no one has picked this up and made a cheap set that upgrades all those projectors in schools, universities, businesses... literally a few dollar set that is worth hundreds

[@sssaam]

I dont think so, because it would not only pick up the dot on the screen, but also the led in the pen and the line of light that is inbetween them. The wii remote would pick up the light in your hand and transmit it onto that spot on the screen picking it up as a mouse click there. It may also get infinitely many readings on the lights line onto the board.

[@knightwhosayni1]

Works like a charm! The hardest thing to make was the pen - 8 prototypes, about 40 burned LEDs but it eventually started working :)

[@cartacaze]

@jcl5m You are a big motivation for developers like me. Keep up the good work !! And you did this back at 2007 ^^

[@GohBoonJin]

hi, you can use Smoothboard's automatic connect feature if you are using the MS Bluetooth stack. You will just need to launch Smoothboard and press the 1+2 buttons on the Wiimote, and the Wiimote will be connected automatically.

[@vladimir0B]

Johnny Lee is the greatest human on the planet. True story

[@MrRoughton]

It works. I've used it in my classroom. I cannot, however, get it to be as responsive as some videos I've seen. I think it is because we have such low RAM in our classroom PCs. I need to try it again at home.

[@killashags]

Very cool Johnny, if my future classroom does not have an interactive white board then I will have to build one of these.

[@GohBoonJin]

@Laascar you can just press the 1+2 buttons in SmoothConnect and the software will automatically connect the Wiimote. You do not need to manually set up the Wiimote

[@tzarvolver]

you could effectively wire a spring loaded circuit in the tip of the light pen to get a more realistic effect

[@WolfataDoor]

Damn, what a bright guy! Genius work here!

[@PolkLC]

Thanks for this video. I used this video back in the day and I remember it worked well!

[@jcpjpg]

Thank you this is a great idea and you are very cool, with people like you the world will be a better place.

[@jtsao22]

Omg. This is SO COOL! Thanks so much for this info and making the software available. This is awesome.

[@cheesewheel]

Now THAT is cool! At my school we have like 30 smartboards (probably less but we DO have alot of them!) and this is like pretty much the same thing as a smartboard!

[@TopSetUK]

For the people asking you should be able to get an IR LED from any electronic components store or online. Wouldn't be hard to build a rudimentary IR pen, it's the projector that's going to be expensive!

[@daedelusify]

Genius as always Johnny.

[@sergi5122]

IR lights are avalible at radio shack for 2 dollars a piece. they are very bright, but expensive. you can buy them for about 5bucks per 50 LEDS off the ebay(which is what i did). theyre not as big and bright, but they did their job.

[@Nickman462]

To connect the wii remote you must have bluetooth enabled on your pc. Then you must hold down the 1 and 2 buttons until the wii remote shows up in your add item to bluetooth window. Lastly, it will ask for a product key. Just press no product key and its connected. Remember to hold down the 1 and 2 buttons for the entire process. Hope this helped!!

[@taliapro]

you are such a inspiring person.thank you so much for sharing this idea with us. I work in a small language school and you helped sooooo much!!!

[@atmoznl]

Damn, think there where already 2762 people before me, but your brilliant. Keep up the good work.

[@EstherSDaniel]

You are so clever ... I love it. Teacher whose school can't afford an IWB - this we can do.

[@RolandMunyard]

Johnny Lee, You are amazing. Well done and thank you for doing this.

[@KillerKad]

@TheZevra - The actual connection software may vary depending on which OS you are using, but as far as the Wiimote is concerned, tell the Bluetooth setup software to search for a device, then hold down the 1 and 2 buttons on the wiimote at the same time until the lights on it start to flash on and off. If the wiimote lights stop flashing during the process, quickly hold down the 1 and 2 buttons again until they flash. There is also an HID setup I had to complete.

[@articarts]

The high school that i'm going to go to after the summer uses your tecnique!

[@twinjuke]

I just don't understand why it hasn't become an industry standard to have touch capabilities with projectors. Low extra cost, huuuuuuuge business advantage.

[@ViejoIvan]

Your website is also full of awesome Johnny Lee!

[@nateoftheland]

thank you so much! this will change the way i work forever.

[@pandora2043]

awesome! you will revolutionize the game industry

[@MichaelJursic]

This is not only excellent and exciting, but you are also an excellent presenter. Thanks! Are you a teacher?

[@MrBenutzrname]

@MrBenutzrname basically we could say the mouse isn't following the dot (which gets seen by the wii-mote)

[@senorretard]

I miss you johnny

[@fifthbizcom]

There is software out there, but a webcam with a piece of film can't track at the same resolution, and doesn't have a dedicated ir tracking chip, so unless you have a high res camera, which costs more, it will be less effective.

[@fifthbizcom]

@jonidimo if you search for NUI there is a adapter for the sony eye toy, 200 hz, and some software to process the signal. It is a lot more CPU heavy (Computer vision which it uses was originally an intel funded project to find practical CPU heavy uses!), as Shakespeare says, the wii pre-processes the data and sends co-ordinates, everything is all cut up and ready to use. On the up side, cable on the Eye Toy means the BT never cuts out. (can be a bit of a problem in Win7.)

[@Shakespeare1612]

Smoothboard allows you to right click by activating your IR pen an holding in still for about 2 seconds. You won't need to right click often if you are giving a presentation though.

[@GohBoonJin]

@miller1234 You will need a Bluetooth adaptor. If you are using Smoothboard, you can connect automatically by pressing the 1 and 2 buttons on the Wiimote simultaneously

[@mikekastenholt568]

estoy esperando por mas proyectos como estos, ojalá puedas compartirnos más

[@PavelPirogov]

Second thing is - it's working much better when you target led directly to wii controller and locate controller on top of projector. Else you will have less correct results.

[@onlyinthewoodedlake]

Johnny Lee, you are amazing!

[@SorIkukeyblade]

It could be on a CRT if you had a CRT monitor. It is for whatever form of display you are using.

[@jmoll101]

this dude deserves a Nobel peace prize for this... =)

[@JustinWinchester]

Wow, awesome work. I sure hope you get a job that will allow you to make more amazing things.

[@MrBla342]

You are awesome Johnny! Thanks a freaking lot. I was interested in digital arts so I bought photoshop to do it. But I needed a drawing tablet too. Then I came across your video. Coincidently, I bought my wii just recently. Voila! I didn't need a tablet at all!

[@qzorn4440]

This is wonderful! I would think the screen could be setup as a spreadsheet to fill in information to update a data base on a factory floor. Like how many cookies and what kind we need to make. Thank you

[@Shakespeare1612]

Web cams experience a lot of lag. The amazing truth is that the Wii-remote pre-processes the data that come from the camera. It does not send 30 frames of full color video data to the computer. If it did (as a web cam does) the processor would have to sift through all that data on its own. The Wii-mote just sends 100 tight little reports every second. It gives to the computer the exact X and Y location of up to 4 IR dots that it sees in it's field of view. This system is far more responsive.

[@GohBoonJin]

@jonidimo The vishay TSAL 6400 would be the best choice for this. Its wavelength is 940nm. Alternatively, you can purchase the IR pens online directly

[@adood101]

This actually works, i have my shit all setup as i type. Its loads of fun to screw with Paint and Flash. Thanks a ton, Johnny!

[@AHeroRising]

@PizzleUK . I'm not sure what you attempt to achieve. but my educated guess would be yes. If you want to use infrared light to reflect on something, it had better be directed at that object. I can't say I'm an expert on the topic though, maybe his other video about tracking fingers with the wii remote might prove usefull

[@GohBoonJin]

You can use Smoothboard to automatically connect your Wiimote. Just launch the software and press 1 and 2 buttons simultaneously

[@GohBoonJin]

The Smoothboard software works on Windows Vista, XP and also both 32-bits and 64-bit operating systems. :)

[@GohBoonJin]

If you are using Smoothboard, you will just need a Bluetooth adaptor that is using the MS Bluetooth Stack. You will just need to press the 1 + 2 buttons and Smoothboard will automatically connect your Wiimote

[@rugbycressard]

johnny lee for president

[@GohBoonJin]

@nthan15 you can use Smoothboard which supports multiple Wiimotes

[@PavelPirogov]

Also I found 2 interesting things. You can use default BT application from vista or win7 for this. Open BT devices, click add device, puch 1+2 on wii controller, select device, click add, select no code required. after that try to run application few times. It's will connect with wii if application was runned in correct moment.

[@BoxRoomStudio]

How about a glove with 4 small infra leds on each finger? obviously the leds would need to be mounteed on the top of the fingertips so the remote could detect them, but that wouldnt be a problem. could produce some interesting multitouch applications and would remove the need to hold the pen.

[@Shakespeare1612]

No, this idea will work with anything that can display your computer screen. Many LCD TVs now have VGA inputs, and many computer now have HDMI outputs. So you can often use a big screen TV. Of course a projector does work the best.

[@RadiDimitrov]

Nope, the wii remote control itself is the important part here - it has its own infra red camera which actually tracks the pen's movements and bluetooth which connects communicates with the PC. Besides, it also has an accelerometer, a speaker and vibration. These could eventually be implemented by software developers, making the Wii remote quite valuable in the PC world, although it has never been intended to be so. Eh, bloody long post. Cheers!

[@From1stPrinciples]

@lostutopian01 Good thinking, but this would require the LED to move into the body of the pen when pressure is applied while being attached to something that opens and closes the switch in turn. If one is trying to work within the pen form-factor (and this project is intended to use cheap and ubiquitous components where possible), it seems like that'd present more design challenge than is justifiable versus the minimal inconvenience of having to depress a button.