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[Project Info]

Project Info

Author: Boonjin
Websites:

• Boonjin.com
  
• Smoothboard.net
  
• Smoothboard Wiki
  

[thex]

Hey,
verry good work congratulations! I will test it at home, i really like the thing where you can see the trackingutilisation and the ability to set the sensitivity.

Keep on developing this!

I will give feedback as son as i find the time to really test it. I know how important feedback is as i'm a developer myself(WiimoteConnect).

One thing i noticed is that if you start the application without a wiimote connected it crashes.
It would be an idea to start the application even if no wiimote is connected (handle error) and let the apllication, as long as no wiimote is connected, try to connect every x seconds or so. You coud maybe indicate the connectionstatus in the statusbar or so.

thex

[benpaddlejones]

Thex/Boonjin
On 32Bit XP I found that the program did not crash, when started without Wiimote connected.

I accidently started Wiimote SmoothBoard before connecting Wiimote (just wasn't thinking). Relising my error I noticed the program did complete only brining up a error saying something along the lines of "no wiimote detected" given JCL's app's never completed execution without a connected Wiimote, I though I'd connect a Wiimote and see what happens. It connected fine, I could then press the 'A' button and the calibration window displayed but the IR-Camera did not detect my IR-Pen. I had to shut everything down then execute in correct order  to get full functionality.

Not sure if this is of any use but interesting compared to Thex's experience and your idea of allowing Wiimote SmoothBoard to run as a background application, until a Wiimote is connected.

Benpaddlejones

[thex]

Sorry forget to mention, error appeared on the following system:
Dell D630
Vista(32bit) SP1
MS bluetooth stack

thex

[boonjin]

I have not used the Wiimote Presenter yet. Can you explain more about the All Tracking Area option?

Rather than a static remote & dynamic IR-Source in a calibrated zone (your whiteboard setup)

The full tracking area is sensitive and is not calibrated. I have a perminatly on IR-Source sitting on my whitebaord ledge.

I then hold the wiimote (the buttons are set to send specific key strokes). I use as a Powerpoint Presenter. Thus I can press buttons to run mouse clicks & keybaord strokes as per my settings.

If I want to control the mouse I point the wiimote at the white board and it moves the mouse based on hand movement relitive to the perminant IR-source.

Best way to explain is as a reverse whiteboard. The IR-source is static and the wiimote is dynamic. Movement always controls the cursor but need to push a button to acheive mouse clicks (left/right/middle).

Ben :-)

Got it! Thanks!

How do you want to trigger this mode? By a option box in the main window?

I have downloaded the Wiimote Presenter source code but could not open it because it uses VS2008. I have just downloaded the VS2008 Express Edition. Will install it later.

BTW, I will be going for a short holiday trip tomorrow. Will only be back a few days later.

[boonjin]

Hey,
verry good work congratulations! I will test it at home, i really like the thing where you can see the trackingutilisation and the ability to set the sensitivity.

Keep on developing this!

I will give feedback as son as i find the time to really test it. I know how important feedback is as i'm a developer myself(WiimoteConnect).

One thing i noticed is that if you start the application without a wiimote connected it crashes.
It would be an idea to start the application even if no wiimote is connected (handle error) and let the apllication, as long as no wiimote is connected, try to connect every x seconds or so. You coud maybe indicate the connectionstatus in the statusbar or so.

thex

thex,
Thanks for the response
I will be trying to make it the app to poll for the detection of the wiimote. However, I have some problems previously where the WiimoteLib will crash when a Wiimote is not detected.

I will try again later. Hopefully I can make the application to standby in the background similar to your application. I have already made it to auto start with windows but its useless without the ability to wait for the wiimote to connect.

Any ideas on how to detect the presence of a wiimote, regardless of the library used?

Thanks!!!

Out of topic: Do you have any basic documentations regarding your application (wiimoteConnect 0.5)? I am not sure about the environment which the app will work. Thanks!

Thex/Boonjin
On 32Bit XP I found that the program did not crash, when started without Wiimote connected.

I accidently started Wiimote SmoothBoard before connecting Wiimote (just wasn't thinking). Relising my error I noticed the program did complete only brining up a error saying something along the lines of "no wiimote detected" given JCL's app's never completed execution without a connected Wiimote, I though I'd connect a Wiimote and see what happens. It connected fine, I could then press the 'A' button and the calibration window displayed but the IR-Camera did not detect my IR-Pen. I had to shut everything down then execute in correct order  to get full functionality.

Not sure if this is of any use but interesting compared to Thex's experience and your idea of allowing Wiimote SmoothBoard to run as a background application, until a Wiimote is connected.

Benpaddlejones

Hm...I did not expect you still can press the 'A' button. 
In the Wiimote Smooth Board 0.1 version, I have not yet successfully made the application to automatically wait for a Wiimote.
Hopefully, this can be ready in the next version.

I will be experimenting more. hehe

Boon Jin

[boonjin]

Hey,
I have created several videos showcasing the Wiimote Smooth Board.

Wiimote Smooth Board 0.1 - Demonstration


Wiimote Smooth Board 0.1 - Calibration


More videos here:
http://www.boonjin.com/wp/2008/07/05/wiimote-smooth-board-01-videos

[thex]

i don't realy have documentation but feel free to ask me anything

maybe you can check if a wiimote is connected if you enumerate the human interface devices and search vor the VID of the wiimote

thex

[thex]

an other improvement would be a feedback for the outer screen stuff

some OSD message that says "right-click enabled" or a ballon message or something like this

thex

[boonjin]

i don't realy have documentation but feel free to ask me anything

maybe you can check if a wiimote is connected if you enumerate the human interface devices and search vor the VID of the wiimote

thex

an other improvement would be a feedback for the outer screen stuff

some OSD message that says "right-click enabled" or a ballon message or something like this

thex

Thanks for the great idea!
I think i will make a small balloon showing the user what was clicked.
And this option can be disabled or enabled.

On the update of my current work, I have made a new feature to allow a portion of a screen to be calibrated (instead of full screen). This is for screens which is too huge and is hard for the user to calibrate. This can also be used for teachers/presenters who wants to allow drawing/cursor control within a limited screen area. As the tracking area is focused within an area of the screen, the tracking accuracy should be better than tracking the whole screen.

Currently, I am working on the two wiimotes. Hopefully this will work out.

Thanks!

Boon Jin

[benpaddlejones]

How do you want to trigger this mode? By a option box in the main window?

Option box is best!

I think seperating the options of:
a) Being able to switch between calibrated and uncalibrated Ir Camera tracking
and
b) "Mouse Click" at IR detection and "Move Mouse to" IR detection

Benpaddlejones

[PRUSER]

This is the best whiteboard app! Much appreciation. Hats off. This opens up a lot of new avenues, now all I need is my favorite commercial applications to get multi touch capability.

PRUSER

[boonjin]

Thanks to everyone who have been testing and giving feedback regarding the Wiimote Smooth Board 0.1

I have just completed the Wiimote Smooth Board 0.2 with the most critical feature most of you are looking for: 2 Wiimotes support.
The second wiimote will provide the redundancy. If the secondary wiimote detects the IR source and the first wiimote does not, the values will be taken from the second wiimote. If calibration was done nicely, the transition between the two wiimotes should be almost unnoticeable. 
The secondary and primary wiimotes can be switched through the application's settings.

Like I have mentioned previously, this version also contains the partial screen area selection feature. This allows you to focus the tracking area to a specific screen area (MS Paint window etc). The tracking accuracy of the focused area will certainly be better than tracking the entire screen. You can use this feature to prevent users (e.g. young children) from messing around with other parts of your system by limiting the tracked area.

You will also be able to use two wiimotes simultaneously (primary wiimote tracking a focus drawing area and the secondary wiimote tracking the full screen). This will allow you to have greater tracking accuracy within your drawing area and at the same time being able to use the whole screen through the secondary wiimote.

I will be able to release the Wiimote Smooth Board 0.2 only in the next few days as I do not have a permanent access to an internet connection at the moment.

Next Version?
In the future, I will be planning to add the Wiimote Presenter style feature, two different selection area for the two wiimotes, balloon to notify the executed toggle, and the auto detection of connected wiimotes.

[UndCon]

Lovely work BoonJin!

[jmatson]

I can't wait to test it out!  Great work!

[dice]

Great work on this software, looks awesome.

Dice