4.6M views · Dec 7, 2007 · 4:05 · 0 HN recommenders · 4 mentions · discussed 2010–2023
Johnny Chung Lee shows how infrared light pens and a Wii Remote can make a very low-cost multi-point interactive whiteboard or tablet display. Software is available for download.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN cites it as a clever low-budget hardware hack and as an example of novel Wiimote uses that never became commercial.
“The polar opposite would be Johnny Chung Lee's videos.”HN comment, 2014
Example of Wiimote whiteboard software students built quickly
I don't have any more time for side projects, but lots of students in one of my HCI classes have built software to do stuff like this in a relatively short timespan (~4 weeks): this video
“The polar opposite would be Johnny Chung Lee's videos.”
Low-budget project video as contrast to polished marketing
I think the hate is the result of how hard they are trying to sell it. My subjective analysis: It is clearly awesome tech, but the obviously high production value of the video detracts from viewers' inclination to appreciate the project. The polar opposite would be Johnny Chung Lee's videos. Here's an example: this video I suspect the ratio of marketing budget to project budget might be a good informal indicator of this effect. Or maybe it's just an aversion to anything big-budget?
“I'm also a bit surprised that Wiimote whiteboards never really took off”
Wiimote whiteboard that never took off
Using a Wacom tablet with: * A drawing app e.g., OneNote or Sketchbook or Krita and * A screen sharing app e.g., join.me Has worked well for me. What's particularly nice is that you have a saveable, shareable, modifiable artifact when you're done with the remote session. I'm also a bit surprised that Wiimote whiteboards never really took off: this video
“using the then new wiimote in completely novel ways”
Novel Wiimote uses that never became commercial
... or the various projects by Johnny Lee [1], using the then new wiimote in completely novel ways [2][3]. 15 years later, I'm still surprised these proof-of-concepts didn't evolve into something more commercial. [1] link [2] link [3] this video
