Hi all, my name is Yoav, and like many others I saw the wii-control head tracking demo on you-tube. and was amazed. I am programming in 3d and I though about trying to build something like that,
but  before I start buying stuff, I'd really like to ask a few questions :

1- Installing –  according to what I read , I understand I have to connect the wii remote to the pc via Blue-tooth, meaning I have to install on my pc the driver supplied in the internet, then search a new Bluetooth device and pair  my pc with the wii remote. Is that right?

2-Input – after installing the wii-remote on my pc , what kind of input do I get? Is it plain joystick input? If so, in what format you get the head position – x, y &z axis of a normal joystick, or other format?

3 – If I understand right, I don’t need the wii-console, but only the remote. The wii-sensor bar can be replaced by two standard IR-leds, and the remote doesn’t need the console to work with the pc. Is that right?

4- does anybody know if logitech's wii-like mouse comming on Augost will be anything like that?

 

That's all,
Thanks
Yoav

Thanks for all the answers, looks very helpful, I'll get right to it.
Just a few more details -
If it's XYZ movement, then there's no rotation detecting, so in the head tracking demo , just rotating your head won't be trackable- right?
which is the most recomended driver for wiimote-to-pc via blue-tooth?

thanks alot
pardon my english
yoav

There is a problem with rotating the wiimote or IR-leds if you turn the setup around...

THe camera can only register at about 45 degrees - this limits virtually all rotation of the wiimote.

IRleds generally have a very limited angle as well but there are exeptions...

If you turn the IRled away from your wiimotes camera you loose signal very easy

If you add a sort of diffuser to the IRleds you can change this at the cost of strength

Currently I´m testing various ways to work with this...

http://undcon.com/mods/wiimote/wiitracker.png

as Triangulation is used I suppose you can get some sort of rotation-detections as well - but then you have to know the distance from the wiimote to the bar (might have to be fixed?)

But you still have to fight the issue that the LED´s will face away from your wiimote...

By checking the code for VRdesktop you have the distance given between LED's (let assume its 100mm)

You calculate the distance Wiimote/LEDbar from this (triangulation)

Now that you have this given I think you can get the angle of the LEDbar if it less than 100mm (rotated left or right) but you will not be able to tell if it is like this \ or like this / simply because the distance between the LED's is the same when the bar is rotated equally...

That is why I want to incorporate a 3rd or 4th LED...

Ill do some checking in the code later tonight...when the kids are asleep...and might neven try to add the angle-detection