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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.
Im having a hard time configuring the screen. My pen works, my romote is detected and i have signal (2 of 4 bars) The pen will not click the surface. The wii remote is pointing at the screen? Any ideas, do i have to have a projector to use this? Or can it be used on a large monitor?
How far the distance between the screen and the Wiimote? As you mentioned your IR Pen has no problem?
As Uwe suggested to use the brighter IR Pen which is I used first 1,5V Battery for IR Pen then I used 3 Volt but the result has the same; losing the accuracy at more than 2 meters, So have any other brilliant suggestions to solve this problem?
Hi JD,
The calibration is stored and automatically loaded for the combination of Wiimote, screen and resolution. The preferences are also saved to disk. Hence, I’m not sure what you mean.
Sorry for the late reply,
Uwe
Hi PW,
You might be interested in this video where they show a telescoping IR pen.
Please see the links in this post and wiimoteproject.com.
Uwe
Hi,
No projector required, any screen will do.
Otherwise I can’t help you with the little information you provided. Have you read the “How to use” guide?
Uwe
This seems to work for some, but not all, users.
Nam send me an email that he solved this problem by choosing the 32-bit VM over the 64-bit VM in the Java Preferences (/Applications/Utilities/Java/Java Preferences.app). Note that this is a system-wide setting and will affect all Java apps.
Uwe
I have been using Curio for OSX (http://www.zengobi.com) as a whiteboarding application. The software acts in a very similar way to that provided by whiteboard manufacturers – and in many respects is superior. One of the features is the ability to export all of the pages as a set of linked web pages. You can also add video content easily. They have education pricing as well.
Hi Uwe,
I’m a final year IT student in England and I’m using your software as part of my multi touch dissertation. I am eternally grateful that you created this software and have allowed the internet community to use it freely! thank you.. I did have one enquiry, I wanted to know if connecting two wiimotes simultaneously is particularly unstable.. I’ve tried for about 2 months and it really hasn’t worked.
Thanks,
Catm
Hi Catm,
You’re welcome. I’d be interested in a link to or a copy of your dissertation once it’s done.
What do you mean with “unstable”? I don’t use/test it very often, but it can’t take a while for both Wiimotes to connect. Try to use the org.uweschmidt.wiimote.whiteboard.wiimoteAddresses runtime option as explained in the wiki. This should at least speed up things…
Uwe
We’ve hit a wall and cannot, despite all help files, get Wii to work with the Lombard G3 Mac running OS 10.4. I presume it has something to do with the fact that we are not a WinTel machine, but that is just a guess.
We’ve tried numerous bluetooth adapters but it is bluetooth that consistently fails to initialize. Would love to be able to use this, but for now am stymied. Any thoughts?
Thank you. I must have changed the default settings when trying to get the system to work. The problem was mine. I didn’t realise the importance of using the camera monitor to enable the Wimote to see the pen. I have now had only success and have demonstrated this software to many people. I think it is better than the Windows software as it automatically pairs the Wiimote to my Mac and has an easy to use interface
Hi Bruce,
I started this thread when I got your email a while back. According to them it should work on your machines.
Uwe
Hi,
your software ist great, but works only on my old 32 bit PowerBook G4 (10.5.5). On my new 64-bit MacBook (10.5.6) your program fails to start because of problems with bluecove. Will there be a new version of your software in the near future? So I can use my MacBook with your software in my classes?
Ingo
Hi Ingo,
I hope your problem can be solved by either this or that.
Uwe
Thank you very much. The second tip works.
Ingo
Your software runs now. But I got the following problem:
INFO 10:41:31 Calibration Event: SCREEN_CHANGED(WiiRemote.java:223) (WiiRemote.java:223)
FINE 10:42:44 WiiRemoteJ: Found Nintendo RVL-CNT-01 (0021BDA94FCF)
FINE 10:42:44 WiiRemoteJ: Nintendo RVL-CNT-01 is a Wii Remote.
INFO 10:42:45 WiiRemoteJ: btl2cap://0021BDA94FCF
FINER 10:42:45 WiiRemoteJ: Initial connection complete.
WARNING 10:42:45 WiiRemoteJ: Error disconnecting!
java.lang.NullPointerException
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.disconnected(WiiRemote.java:1984)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.construct(WiiRemote.java:434)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.
at wiiremotej.WiiDeviceDiscoverer.getDevice(WiiDeviceDiscoverer.java:121)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ.findDeviceInternal(WiiRemoteJ.java:342)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ.access$100(WiiRemoteJ.java:24)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ$1.run(WiiRemoteJ.java:426)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:613)
SEVERE 10:42:45 WiiRemoteJ: Error getting device!
java.io.IOException: Error sending data!
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.sendCommand(WiiRemote.java:613)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.setInputReport(WiiRemote.java:888)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.setInputReport(WiiRemote.java:894)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.construct(WiiRemote.java:430)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.
at wiiremotej.WiiDeviceDiscoverer.getDevice(WiiDeviceDiscoverer.java:121)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ.findDeviceInternal(WiiRemoteJ.java:342)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ.access$100(WiiRemoteJ.java:24)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemoteJ$1.run(WiiRemoteJ.java:426)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:613)
Caused by: java.io.IOException: Failed to write [0xe00002bc]
at com.intel.bluetooth.BluetoothStackOSX.l2Send(Native Method)
at com.intel.bluetooth.BluetoothL2CAPConnection.send(BluetoothL2CAPConnection.java:126)
at wiiremotej.WiiRemote.sendCommand(WiiRemote.java:609)
… 9 more
FINE 10:42:45 WiiRemoteJ: Wii Remote disconnected.
Can you help me with this?
Ingo
Well, I’dont know why, but now it works. I just had to start the software several times.
But now, I have another question: Is there any more free software out there? Like an onscreen keyboard or something to write and draw on the whole screen and so on. Because otherwise, I have just a computer with a large screen and that’s it. I could stick to my beamer and normal laptop.
Ingo
We are installing a new project at the Thessonaliki Museum of Contemporary Art which opens on Wed. 20 May and I cannot keep the connection open to the Wiimote. The program runs fine for a while and then loses it connection. HELP!
Any comments welcome,
Barry H.
I just wrote a few minutes ago but forgot to mention I am running MAC OS 10.5 with the latest updates. I cannot keep the Wiimote connected after a few minutes. We are installing a major interactive exhibition in Greece which opens day after tomorrow-so we are very concerned.
Is there any way to connect to the Wiimote with a cable instead of bluetooth?
Barry H.
Hi Ingo,
The initial connection sometimes isn’t very reliable.
Yes, there have been quite a few posts about this, e.g: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
There are certainly more options, you just have to search…
Uwe
Hi Barry,
I’ve personally never experienced problems of this kind, though I usually only test the software for short periods of time. Hence, I’m the wrong person to help you with that. Maybe your problems are due to radio interference with other electronic devices in the exhibition hall (e.g., Bluetooth and Wireless LAN both operate on the frequency spectrum around 2.4 GHz).
I suggest you ask someone who has successfully deployed this as a permanent solution, like Tom Sextro. As always, the wiimoteproject.com forums are a great resource.
You may also want to “lock” the whiteboard software to your Wiimotes only, otherwise visitors could try to connect their Wiimotes (see Runtime Options).
Yes (1, 2), but there is no easy or even off-the-shelf solution that I’m aware of. Also, my software won’t work with such a setup in its current state.
That means you can do it with a good knowledge of electronics, programming and maybe a few weeks time.
Good luck,
Uwe
I’m doing a multimedia project (that is, of course, due yesterday.)
I am trying to run 2 macs next to each other, each running wiimote whiteboard.
Each will work if the other is not running wiimote whiteboard.
Launching whiteboard on either computer after the first launches fails to find any wii controller.
Is there a solution? At this point it’s worth a few $ to me….
I’m trying to get signals from 2 wii controllers I can work with.
Please feel free to email me at cccorlew@comcast.net, or respond here.
Hi Curtis,
So you want to connect 2 Wiimotes to 2 Macs (one each) in close proximity. A couple of teachers have already asked me about this. They generally have the problem that some Mac in another classroom is grabbing their Wiimote. Your problem seems to be similar if I understand correctly.
I included a somewhat experimental feature that allows you to restrict the software to connect to specified Wiimotes only. Experimental, because I don’t have the resources to test it much. Please read about the runtime option org.uweschmidt.wiimote.whiteboard.wiimoteAddresses at the wiki.
I’ve also answered this in somewhat more detail in this thread (focus on Windows though).
Hope that helps,
Uwe
Hi man!
Ive been trying to running yr applic. on windows but not lucky…Im running xp
Any idea why?
Regards!
F/
Great program Sir, 744 kids are using this thing in my school district
Skot
What programs allow the IR pen to draw on the screen?
Hi,
I can’t help you without further information…
Sorry for the late reply,
Uwe
Hi,
that’s nice to hear.
Please follow the links in this post.
Sorry for the late reply,
Uwe
I’ve made modification on WinXP source of Johnny Lee’s Wiimote Whiteboard project. So that it can support the following
▷Functions
1. Right click (keep LED ON long enough on the same position)
2. Mouse move with no button down (keep LED ON and move, it was drag in Johnny Lee’s original app)
3. Drag. to fire a drag, you must do the following action series:
A. keep LED ON shortly
B. keep LED OFF shortly
C. keep LED ON and start drag from the same position as A’s position.
while, just avoid movement before drag start.
4. Click (keep LED ON shortly and let it OFF)
5. Double Click. This is not realized with intent, just do click twice.
please visit http://www.vdonkey.co.cc for more. but the source code cannot be download now because the file server is down. please contact me by msn( vdonkey@hotmail.com) for source code
Hello,
You got a really interesting project here)
As I understood you use the IR camera of the wiimote.
Could I use a regular IR camera instead of a wiimote?
(It is very easy to build a IR camera from a webcam)
cheers
Hi vdonkey,
Have you checked out the Touchpad Mode of my application? It essentially does the same thing.
Uwe