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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.
Dear friends,
I am trying to build WHITEBOARD using software from SMOOTHBOARD ….
I have made IR pen , it works great …. I have instaled everything but when I
want to calibrate I can`t … Actually the IR-Pen doesn`t move the cursor the
WIMOTE only can move the cursor…. I tried everything and the tracking procent
is 0% or 1% ….
If I face the Ir -pen to the WIMOTE the WIMOTE move the cursor ..
can you help me ?
Hi Nikola,
If you are unable to calibrate the Wiimote with the IR pen and only when the IR pen is facing the Wiimote it works, it is either due to the IR pen or the Wiimote.
If the IR pen does not have the right specifications, the Wiimote may not be able to capture the IR emitted from the IR pen. What IR pen are you using?
Also, Wiimotes that are faulty or non-genuine also will cause your issue.
If you need faster response, please do email us via our contact form, http://www.smoothboard.net/contact
Regards,
Boon Jin
Hi Hossni,
Brian Peek’s WimoteLib does include a test application that connects to multiple Wiimotes.
You can take a look at the example as your starting guide.
Regards,
Boon Jin
Will the Wii remote work with a rear projection screen? IOW – I want to put the projector behind the screen and the remote on top of the projector – that way I am not standing in the light of the projector. Will the Wii Remote pick up the signal of the pen through the screen?
Hi,
I use Mac application, but I cannot see the ‘Preferences’ in the application menu. I saw in the wiki that Mac users should edit info.plist file, but I don’t understand if the hint applies for all the options or just for advanced ones.
Thanks
Im running your source code in netbeans 6.5, but i have somethig wrong in the code that you give us, can you help me with this: I cant find JaiI18N.getString(“Generic0″) what is this?? This little piece of code in the class PerspectiveTransform its wrong, i mean ¿It is necesary have this class to run the aplication correctly? or ¿what am i doing wrong? Thanks for all.
Hi HowGood,
there is Webcam Whiteboard, but apparently untested for Mac OS X. I’m not aware of any other apps… you’ll have to search for yourself.
Hi David,
my software will work with a rear-projection setup.
Just get a suitable translucent screen and a strong IR pen and the Wiimote should be able to pick up the signal through the screen (at a reasonable distance).
Hi Marco,
that’s odd. They should be right there, as in any other Mac app. As an alternative, try using the standard keyboard shortcut ⌘, (command + comma).
Hi Rodanmuro,
please see Source Code at Troubleshooting.
You can just remove this line of code if you want, it’ll never be called.
Thank you very much my friend, i did and now it works.
can any one send me the software link for this wii white board project…..
send as soon as possible…
Hi kishore,
what do you mean?
Hi Uwe,
thanks for your great work.
I’m sorry, but I’m one of those guys who aren’t able to bring it to work. I tested very much and read nearly all relevant posts, but your tool does not find the WiiMote.
I’m able to use any Software (Johnny Chung Lees, updates of it http://www.hiddenramblings.com/2010/06/wiimote-whiteboard-with-windows-x64.html, smoothboard 1 and 2, …) wich use the windows bluetooth connection, but not yout java-ttol with it’s built-in connection. Isn’t it possible to make a version which uses the microsoft-connection? I know that this possibly will result in an microsoft-only version.
I tried many drivers, but no one worked. I also read http://www.uweschmidt.org/comment/166, but don’t know what you mean to do when the problem occurs.
Regards,
Dirk Wilhelmi.
Sorry for the last Post.
I gave it a last try and
It works!
Id don’t know from where I have the link so I’ll post it once more if it is already here.
http://www.dev-toast.com/2007/01/05/uncrippling-bluetooth-in-vista-rtm/
helped me to install the driver and patch from
http://www.taringa.net/posts/downloads/1533488/Como-instalar-WIDCOMM-drivers-5_1_0_1100.html
on WinXP Home.
And one more time it works. Now I have to test it.
Thanks for your really great work!
Best regards,
Dirk Wilhelmi
Yes, I’d found that website.
Still wishing for a program that uses the built-in iSight on Mac. Or one that can be modified…
Thanks for your help though…
hello
could someone please help me to open source in Netbeans IDE 6.9.1, I would like to add minor customizations to menu and other resources, but the IDE report me bunch of error messages when trying to compile and exclamation marks with syntax errors when open project source.
please help me someone open source and library correctly !!
Hi andrej,
the important thing is that you add all .jar-files in the lib-folder to the Java classpath, because my source code depends on them.
Please be more specific if that’s not the problem.
Sorry for the late reply,
Uwe
If I set-up the Wiimote Whiteboard in my classroom, will I be able to use Screen Recordings with Quicktime? If I write on the “whiteboard” will those graphics show up on the Screen Recording?
Thanks!
Hi Ryan,
as long as it’s visible on your screen, it should show up on the screen recording from Quicktime. Or do you mean something else?
After calibration I still have a big problem. The pointer mouvement seems to be “dotted” eg : if I run paint or any drawing tool, and move the pen, I don’t have a continous line (like with a mouse) be a dotted one. So I am unable to use the Wiimote Whiteboard because I cannot “write” with it.
The screen diag is about 3m to 3m50. I had big problems to find where and how to put the wiimote to have it able to “see” all the screen. Now it seems ok. But the calibration gives very bad results…
I am still unable to use properly a second wiimote (which may have helped), Wimmote Whiteboard always says the second one is “out of the screen” …
The screen size of 3m seems to be quite large and thus you may have to place the Wiimote far away from the screen.
Usually a screen size of a usual whiteboard works the best with a single Wiimote.
For your case, you must be sure that you have a good IR pen with sufficient battery and use the second Wiimote.
Regards,
Boon Jin
When trying to write with my wii mote pen (using omni dazzle or any online whiteboard) there is no break in the line For example if I try to write “5 + 3″, when I am done with the 5 and try to write the “+” I get a line from where the 5 ended and “+” begins. I have tried multiple pens and this happens with all of them.
Did work on my XP system. On my Win 7 Doesnt work anymore.
Does anyone now why?
it just dont find the wiimote anymore.
We’re using two computers with wiimotes near each other and running into a problem where the first computer pairs with the second wiimote before the second computer gets a chance. Is there a way to alter the code to make each computer only ever sync with one wiimote?
thanks
Hi jmezzz,
this obviously shouldn’t happen. Please try the software Jarnal, which works for me.
Sorry for the late reply.
Hi Alan,
you can do this by using the runtime option “org.uweschmidt.wiimote.whiteboard.wiimoteAddresses”. Please read this for instructions.
PS: This will be simplified in the next release, hopefully before the end of the year.
Hi,
how can I open the program? I´ve tried to open it via cmd but the GUI doesn´t open.
I have the latest version of Java 6 and Windows 7. Please help me.
Best Regards
Ok I’ve managed to open the program.
However, I’m not able to make a connection between Wii Remote and the Computer because the program says BlueSoleil is not supported. I also can’t install the Widcoomm stack because it is not supported for my Bluetooth Hardware.
I’ve used the Toshiba Stack with the original app from Johnny Lee and everything worked fine.
What can I do to make the program run with my Wii Remote and my Computer.
Best Regards
Chris
Hi Chris,
I’m sorry but the Widcomm stack is the only one that currently works with my app on Windows.