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This program allows you to use the Wii Remote (Wiimote) to turn any surface into a Low-Cost Interactive Whiteboard. It is based on Johnny Lee’s original WiimoteWhiteboard program that is written in C# and available for Windows only. My program uses Java to allow for (some) platform-independence. I also provide a Mac-only version since I’m a Mac user and this is, up to my knowledge, currently the only such program for the Mac. For Windows only, Boon Jin has enhanced Johnny’s software and created the shareware program Smoothboard. There is also a SourceForge project that provides other implementations, but it is not getting much attention.
Check out the video and the other cool projects at Johnny Lee’s page if you have no idea what I’m talking about 
.
Features in a nutshell
- Open source
- Runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
- Simple User Interface available in English, Estonian, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovene, and Spanish
- Camera Monitor and Calibration Details for better Wiimote placement
- Auto-connects up to 2 Wiimotes
- Right-click support, double-click assistance
- Mouse cursor smoothing
- Screen selection
- Touchpad Mode
- Update notification
- TUIO/OSC support for multitouch applications
More details in the Wiki.
Download (1.0.3)
Some example videos
Documentation & Support
You can post your comments, bug reports, feature requests, etc. at the bottom of this page. The latest documentation is available in the Wiki. You can also find out how you can help.
The wiimoteproject.com forums are a great resource for everything Wiimote. You may use this subforum to discuss everything related to my software. The Smoothboard Wiki also contains useful information for setting up your interactive whiteboard.
Infrared pens
You need a source of infrared (IR) light to use the software. Many people build their own IR pens for that purpose, usually by retrofitting some sort of marker. You’ll find all you need to know here. I started with a simple IR pen made from a battery clip.
There are also IR pens for sale if you don’t want to build one yourself. Several vendors sell different models, the IR Pen marketplace is a good place to get an overview.
You can use the coupon code uwe if you buy from IRPensOnline.com. This will give you a discount of $2 and I’ll get $1.
Compatibility
I only heard of few problems on Mac OS X, using the built-in stack. I also got reports from users who got the program running on Windows using either the Widcomm or BlueSoleil stack. It seems like Widcomm works better, see this post about BlueSoleil. You need to use the BlueZ stack on Linux, see the Wiki or this post for further instructions.
Issue on PowerPC Macs (excerpt from the WiiRemoteJ-README):
Note for Mac OS X PowerPC (PPC) users: you will have to delete the Wii Remote from your previous devices list in System Preferences->Bluetooth->Devices after each connection (every time you connect a given Wii Remote). Even then, the outgoing connection will still fail every other time. There is some sort of bug relating to HCI devices and Apple’s library. Luckily, it was fixed for the Intel Macs.
Further details can be found in the Wiki or the help files bundled with the application.
Hoffe du schaust hier noch ab und zu rein…
Wollte dein Programm mit einer frisch gekauften Wiimote und einem MBP mit 10.4.11 mal testen. Nach dem starten wird es jedoch gleich wieder beendet. Bluetooth läuft (und zeigt die Wiimote unter “durchsuchen” auch an), “1″ und “2″ oder der sync Knopf wurden gedrückt. In der Gerätliste in den Systemeinstellungen taucht die Wiimote nicht auf.
Wie soll ich vorgehen?
Hi Jonas,
please download the Cross-platform Java version and run it by typing java -jar WiimoteWhiteboard.jar in the Terminal.
Look out for error messages and post them here…
Uwe
Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ.findRemotes(Lwiiremotej/event/WiiRemoteDiscoveryListener;I)V at org.uweschmidt.wiimote.whiteboard.WiimoteDataHandler.(WiimoteDataHandler.java:95)
at org.uweschmidt.wiimote.whiteboard.WiimoteWhiteboard.startup(WiimoteWhiteboard.java:76)
at org.jdesktop.application.Application$1.run(Application.java:171)
at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(InvocationEvent.java:209)
at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:461)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:269)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:190)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:184)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:176)
at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:110)
Obviously it doesn’t see the Wiimote. But that should raise an unhandled exception, right? Ideas?
Hi Jonas,
are you using the WiiRemoteJ library yourself for Java programming, and is it in the Java classpath?
If so, it could explain that error since the newest WiiRemoteJ library has some changed methods in comparison to the version still being used in my application.
Uwe
Uwe,
thanks a lot, it was exactly as you suspected, your app runs fine now. I put the WiiRemoteJ library into {{sys/lib/java/ext}} in order to run another utility, WiimoteCommander. I’m getting error messages with that too. Maybe you could also give me a hint what’s wrong overthere?
Exception in thread "Thread-2" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: wiiremotej/event/WiiRemoteDiscoveryListener at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass1(Native Method) at java.lang.ClassLoader.defineClass(ClassLoader.java:620) at java.security.SecureClassLoader.defineClass(SecureClassLoader.java:124) at java.net.URLClassLoader.defineClass(URLClassLoader.java:260) at java.net.URLClassLoader.access$100(URLClassLoader.java:56) at java.net.URLClassLoader$1.run(URLClassLoader.java:195) at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method) at java.net.URLClassLoader.findClass(URLClassLoader.java:188) at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:306) at sun.misc.Launcher$AppClassLoader.loadClass(Launcher.java:268) at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:251) at java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClassInternal(ClassLoader.java:319) at fds.wii.wiimote.commander.finder.FinderThread.run(FinderThread.java:34)Hi Jonas,
I’m pretty sure that your version of WiimoteCommander also doesn’t work with the newest version of WiiRemoteJ (v1.5).
Try using the older WiiRemoteJ v1.4 and remove WiiRemoteJ v1.5 from your Java classpath.
Uwe
I am running this on my mac book, have a wireless keyboard and mouse hooked up to it and am having a problem when trying to write on the board I have my duel monitor thing set up also since my screen was not seeing my laptop screen but and I had to drag everything to the right to get to see it.
When I am trying to calibrate and all the only time the wii remote will see my pen is if I have the ir end facing towards the wii remote….then I am not really writing on my screen but writing in the air towards my wii remote….what am I doing wrong?
Ok. I can move my mouse with my homemade IR pen but how do I LEFT click?
I’m getting a failure under Debian Etch. Without the blucove jar it tells me that my bluetooth stack is inadequate, with the jar it crashes with:
#
# An unexpected error has been detected by Java Runtime Environment:
#
# SIGFPE (0x8) at pc=0xb7f03745, pid=17121, tid=1899125680
#
# Java VM: Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (1.6.0-b105 mixed mode)
# Problematic frame:
# C [ld-linux.so.2+0x7745]
#
# An error report file with more information is saved as hs_err_pid17121.log
#
# If you would like to submit a bug report, please visit:
# http://java.sun.com/webapps/bugreport/crash.jsp
#
Aborted
I’m using the standard sun-java packages from the Etch repository.
Hi Beth,
I saw you already got answer to your post at wiimoteproject.com. I have nothing to add…
Uwe
Hi Ray,
the left mouse button is normally always pressed when the software detects that you IR pen is on. It sounds like you activated the Touchpad Mode in the preferences, which changes the behavior of the application. If that’s the case, simply turn it off and you should be fine.
Uwe
Hi nihil,
your best bet is to post this at the BlueCove Users Discussion Group, it might be a known issue or incompatibility. Other than that, you could try a different Java package or version…
Uwe
Uwe,
Have you thought about adding the functionality of BoonJin’s smoothboard, the way he can manually select the sensitivity? I remember you saying that there is some sort of sensitivity limitation going on with the wiimote library you use, but I don’t feel like going back over all the 6 or 7 pages to find it.
I was thinking that if I had selectable sensitivity and a totally reliable IR pen with a button-tip, I’d be there.
Boonjin’s smoothboard has selectable sensitivity, but I’d rather do this on a Mac.
Hi Descalzo,
so you want less sensitivity? I’m asking because I currently use the highest possible sensitivity level in the software.
It is possible though to let the user choose. I’m just wondering why…
Uwe
Hi, Uwe
Your application is my inspiration! Now, I’m using this for my BFA thesis’ project. I’m trying to create something like this (http://pekkasandborg.com/portfolio/?id=2) and projected it on the screen. It would be fun if a visitor came into the gallery, picked up the IR pen, and drag the ragdoll’s head maybe. Then another visitor gets another IR pen and drags the others of the ragdoll’s body. To be able to get this go through and fun, there must be at least 2 IR pens working at the same time, right? So I’m just wondering if there is any possible way to make it work that way?
Thanks for your great application and the contribution here. I really appreciate it!
C.J.
Um, maybe I’m mistaken, or thinking of an older version of the software or something. I’ll get back to you on that.
As for why someone would want to adjust the sensitivity, Booonjin has adjustable sensitivity in case some users have extra IR light flitting around or something. I don’t remember the rationale. I do have mine cranked up to maximum, though.
One of the things I like about yours is its superior functionality with dual screens.
So what are people doing for the presenter side of things? I have a second wiimote and I’m getting a sensor bar today to try out that aspect of the Boonjin program.
OK, I just rechecked it, but I didn’t have time to check it out a lot, I just fired it up before I went home from work, and it worked great.
I guess I don’t understand what the Reset Wiimote button is for then.
Hi C.J.,
my software should work with up to 4 IR pens at the same time. You can’t use the regular mouse for this though, you need to use the TUIO data. So there is probably some programming to do for the software that actually manipulates the ragdolls.
Uwe
Hi Descalzo,
Setting the sensitivity level sometimes doesn’t work and the camera then either has less sensitivity or doesn’t see any IR dots at all. The Reset Wiimote button will just set the sensitivity level again, so it’s worth trying in case of problems.
Uwe
first off, this thing is GREAT! any suggestions on building the stand for the wii remote?
this thing is totally awesome, i am a teacher/ temporary administrator at a pretty low budget missionary school in Portugal…one of my colleagues found this and it is great, the only question we had is what did you use to make a stand for your remote? thanks for doing this!
Try to adapt a mini tripod. There are some ideas (and images) in the forum
http://www.wiimoteproject.com/
Chees
Francisco
PS:
-Se precisares de ajuda, apita!
-Para criares uma IRPen consulta o meu mini-site:
http://clinik.net/wiimote/
-E se encontrares um boa solução para adaptar o tripé ao wiimote, avisa-me… tb ando à procura duma solução!
only whit java can work in sistem xp pro whit your diferent softwane say error 800—-
some of this comentets is posible in espanish me i ask
este foro es solo en ingles se difundiria aun mas el idiomas distintos
gracias y espero no molestar con este coment
Yo sí entiendo. Si tienes una pregunta, hazla. Creo que hay otros aquí que hablan español.
http://penteractive.us/ I am using this pen now but still having this problem! I got the pens, made sure they had batteries in them and all of that, got the program to see my wiimote and it’s still a 60/40 chance that I can calibrate the board and then once I get it calibrated I still can’t open anything. Is there something else other than the whiteboard application that I should have installed on my computer?
Beth
I am having the same problem as Beth. I have been unsuccessful at getting my penteractive IR pen to work effectively with the Wiimote. Once I finally calibrate the screen (which is not guaranteed to work), I can’t open anything. The mouse “pointer” moves about six inches behind the pen. What am I doing wrong?
Brad
I heard of one other guy who had this problem, and then I had the same problem (but only in Windows, and only on BoonJin’s application, and only if I had dual monitors activated). I haven’t found out why mine did this; I just turned off the laptop LCD and closed the lid and the problem went away.
Also: have you considered that maybe the penteractive pen sucks? I finally went out and used a quality LED, good solders at every connection, one of those lever-clicking switches, and a battery holder (instead of wadded-up tinfoil) to make a good pen. All of my troubles (except for dual monitors in Windows) went away.
I don’t know if there’s some way I can help you test your penteractive pen. Maybe borrow a buddy’s windows machine and see if it works any better with BoonJon’s program?
Hi Beth,
I read your discussion with Ben at wiimoteproject.com. You said you have problems when mirroring your screen. I’ll look into that.
Other than that, I can just say that you don’t need anything else installed on your computer and that good Wiimote placement and a reflective whiteboard surface is crucial.
Uwe
Hi Brad,
it could be that the calibration wasn’t good if the mouse cursor is way off the IR pen.
During calibration, it’s important to directly point at a crosshair when activating the IR pen.
Uwe