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Author Topic: Penteractive.us to offer FREE Wiimote Whiteboard software  (Read 17074 times)

Offline jmitchell

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on: October 10, 2009, 11:51:09 AM
Penteractive.us is presently working with a developer to provide a FREE Windows version of the wiimote interactive whiteboard software. It will feature a bluetooth connectivity routine utilizing the MS Bluetooth stack as well as the disconnecting of the wiimote when the application is closed. We will not be including any annotation functions as those are readily available in other free programs.

Teachers will especially find this application refreshingly simple to implement in a classroom setting.

As Uwe Schmidt already makes a free Mac application available, we will continue to support his work and thank him for making continued improvements.

We are days from beta testing and the world wide release is slated for November 1.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2009, 06:56:01 AM by jmitchell »

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

Offline mason

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Reply #1 on: October 21, 2009, 02:18:40 AM
Excellent !

Congratulations on your achievement for doing this, work for this wiimote idea will have many ways to reach the surface.


Offline jmitchell

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Reply #2 on: October 21, 2009, 09:53:46 AM
Our main source of distribution will be through our site - http://penteractive.us/pentabulous.

My goal in creating this is to provide a simple functioning application that makes creating a wiimote interactive whiteboard as easy as possible. I believe that has been accomplished. It looks as though it could be ready as early as Friday.

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

Offline JoriQ

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Reply #3 on: November 10, 2009, 09:49:59 AM
This is great software.  I am hoping to help some other teachers in the school use this whiteboard system, but I was always worried about the complications of connecting and calibrating.  I can definitely see users willing to take on the project with your simple software.

Myself, I like having offscreen toggles, and a bit more functionality, so I'm not sure I will use this day-to-day, but it will be what I use to get other teachers going.

One thing: for some reason after it connects my wiimote, it crashes.  Then I run it again and say that I am already connected and it works fine.  No biggie, since it's still easier than connecting any other way.  It may also be unique to my situation.  The image of the computer I have at school it so messed up that I have always found connecting to be finicky. 

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JQ

Offline jmitchell

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Reply #4 on: November 10, 2009, 04:51:15 PM
How are you powering your wiimote? Weird question I know. Also, what version of windows do you have?

One thing I've learned is if there is an error and the program closes, the wiimote stays connected as the option to disconnect isn't given.  So if you restart and select that it's already connected, I guess it should work fine as you state. Please keep me posted about this.

You described perfectly why Pentabulous! exists. It's simple and should be usable by any teacher. We're compiling some improvements to be made for the next version.

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

Offline mason

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Reply #5 on: November 10, 2009, 05:32:14 PM
Quote from: jmitchell on November 10, 2009, 04:51:15 PM
We're compiling some improvements to be made for the next version.

I hope you are not forgetting about toggling move only and click only feature in the sidebar :)


Offline JoriQ

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Reply #6 on: November 16, 2009, 01:53:49 PM
Quote from: jmitchell on November 10, 2009, 04:51:15 PM
How are you powering your wiimote? Weird question I know. Also, what version of windows do you have?

I rigged a plug to the battery contacts and plug it into the wall. The plug should be to right power output, I made sure of that when I rigged it.  It's on an XP machine.

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JQ

Offline jmitchell

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Reply #7 on: November 16, 2009, 06:46:01 PM
JoriQ - I would ask that you try the software using regular batteries and tell me what happens. I was testing it with another 3rd party battery device and received the same error. I finally realized that the software produces an error when the wiimote is possibly being overpowered. I'm going to be doing some more testing with this because we are looking at revising and updating at the first of next year. Thank you for the response and feedback.

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

Offline jmreed97

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Reply #8 on: January 17, 2010, 11:23:34 AM
Hi... I am new to the wiimote project and I am attempting to get IWB's set up in the school where I teach. Penteractive's Pentabulous! seems to be the solution I am looking for. I am however experiencing some difficulties.

When using a regargable battery for the wiimote with windows XP, I get the following error:

Value '103' is not valid for 'Value.' Value should be between 'minimum' and 'maximum.'

Everything is working fine when I use smoothboard, but given our budget situation I would like to go the free route.I can get it to work with regular batteries, but replacing batteries all the time isn't very practical.

Any help?
Thanks!
Jake


Offline jmitchell

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Reply #9 on: January 17, 2010, 01:38:15 PM
What exactly are you using for the power? Pentabulous! is tested to work with all of the products sold on our website. I can't make any guarantees about any other power devices. I am looking to revise the software in February to hopefully fix the powering issue.

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

Offline jmreed97

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Reply #10 on: January 18, 2010, 08:43:23 PM
Quote from: jmitchell on January 17, 2010, 01:38:15 PM
What exactly are you using for the power? Pentabulous! is tested to work with all of the products sold on our website. I can't make any guarantees about any other power devices. I am looking to revise the software in February to hopefully fix the powering issue.

It is a rechargeable battery kit for wii from "Psyclone essentials." It is not the one from your site. I was in a hurry so I picked it up from target. Teach me to be impatient...  :D


Offline jmreed97

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Reply #11 on: January 20, 2010, 03:32:15 PM
It's suddenly working... Not sure what I changed, but it is.


Offline jmitchell

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Reply #12 on: January 20, 2010, 04:02:51 PM
You must have used the force... ;D

Wiimote Whiteboard Expert and seller - http://penteractive.us

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