Information on the Wiiboard
editA smartboard is an electronic teaching device that turns a large screen into a touch screen display. These devices typically cost thousands of dollars. The Wiiboard provides the function of a smartboard by using a Nintendo Wii controler and a computer for a fraction of the cost. The original idea behind this project comes from Johnny Chung Lee, a Carnegie Mellon graduate student who has found several interesting applications for the Wiimote.
To create the interactive smartboard, you will need the following:
1. LCD Projector
2. PC computer with bluetooth capabilities If your computer doesn't have integrated bluetooth, you can purchase an inexpensive bluetooth dongle to provide the same capabilities.
3. Infra red light pen While it is possible to build your own, several commercial options are available which will provide much better results. Penteractive [1] makes an excellent and inexpensive IR pen. Another company, IRPensOnline [2], makes a more expensive and more advanced IR pen.
4. Standard Nintendo Wii Remote
5. Smoothboard Software Several innovative computer programmers have taken the work started by Johnny Chung Lee and moved it to a much more advanced state. Currently, the best interactive whiteboard software is smoothboard [3] created by BoonJin.
Setting Up your Wiiboard
1. Install the smoothboard software.
2. Connect wiimote to computer[4]
3. Calibrate Use your IR pen to calibrate your screen. This tells the software where the screen is in relation to the wiimote. If you move your wiimote or your projector, you will need to recalibrate.
Tips and Tricks
1. Wiimote Placement Increase your tracking resolution by experimenting with the placement of the wiimote. The tracking resolution is displayed in smoothboard below the quick calibration button (see below) The higher the tracking resolution, the better your wiiboard will work. Generally, the tracking resolution must be above 50% in order to write legibly on the screen.
2. Information for Mac Users: The Wiiboard was developed for the PC, however software iterations are slowly being written for those who prefer Mac. Visit the wiimote project Mac forum for the latest on what is available.
3. Troubleshooting: A helpful community of individuals who are using the Wiimote to do interesting things is available at the Wiimote Project [5]. If you are having trouble with your wiiboard, visit the sight and read through the posts. There is a very high chance that someone else has had your problem and has identified a solution for it.
4. Now I have a Wiiboard-- what do I do with it? For suggestions on what to do with you Wiiboard, visit The Electric Educator Blog[6]: Ideas related to educational technology including the Wiiboard BioWiki[7]: a wiki which contains links to a variety of web activities that work well with the Wiiboard.