Wii remote hacks | Johnny Lee

Summary

This presentation demonstrates how low-cost technologies, like the Nintendo Wii Remote, can make advanced capabilities accessible to a wider population. The speaker showcases how the Wii Remote's infrared camera can create an interactive whiteboard for only $50 and enable head-tracking applications with minimal additional hardware. These innovations help bridge the gap for schools and individuals with limited resources. By sharing ideas through platforms like YouTube, the speaker emphasizes how quickly knowledge can spread and inspire global collaboration, making technology more inclusive and driving scientific and educational advancements.

Takeaways

• 😀 Researchers often use immense resources to achieve goals, but this can limit participation and benefits to only a small fraction of the population.
• 😀 The speaker is motivated by finding simple opportunities to make advanced technologies more accessible to a wider audience.
• 😀 The Nintendo Wii Remote, a $40 video game controller, is highlighted for its motion-sensing capabilities and the infrared camera embedded within it.
• 😀 The speaker demonstrates how the Wii Remote, combined with a $5 infrared pen, can create a highly affordable interactive whiteboard for schools or offices.
• 😀 For about $50 in hardware, users can have their own interactive whiteboard, significantly cheaper than the traditional $2,000 to $3,000 options.
• 😀 The whiteboard system is multi-touch capable, allowing for more interactive capabilities beyond just single-point input.
• 😀 The speaker shares that the software for the interactive whiteboard system has been downloaded over half a million times, showing its wide adoption.
• 😀 A second demo uses the Wii Remote with infrared dots in safety glasses to track head movements and create a 3D experience on a computer screen.
• 😀 The head-tracking setup can respond to the user’s movements, enhancing the 3D experience in real-time, with minimal hardware costs (around $10).
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the speed with which ideas can spread globally via platforms like YouTube, noting that their work reached a million people in just one week.
• 😀 The research community is encouraged to embrace online video distribution to share ideas and innovations more widely and rapidly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's research?

The main focus of the speaker's research is making advanced technologies, like interactive whiteboards and head tracking systems, more accessible to a wider population by using inexpensive tools like the Nintendo Wii Remote.

Why does the speaker emphasize the use of the Nintendo Wii Remote in their demonstrations?

The speaker emphasizes the use of the Nintendo Wii Remote because it is an affordable and underutilized piece of technology that contains a high-performing infrared camera, which can be repurposed for innovative applications like interactive whiteboards and head tracking systems.

How does the speaker propose creating an interactive whiteboard with a Wii Remote?

The speaker demonstrates that by combining a Wii Remote with a $5 infrared pen, users can create an interactive whiteboard by tracking the infrared dot projected by the pen on the screen, making the whiteboard affordable and accessible for only about $50.

What are the limitations of the Wii Remote-based interactive whiteboard solution?

The limitations include a reduction in functionality compared to professional interactive whiteboards, as the Wii Remote system only achieves about 80% of the performance of a traditional $2000+ system.

How does the head tracking demonstration work with the Wii Remote?

In the head tracking demo, the Wii Remote detects infrared dots on a pair of safety glasses worn by the user. This allows the system to track the user's head movements and adjust the 3D display on the screen accordingly, creating a more immersive experience.

What is the cost of the additional hardware needed for the head tracking demo?

The additional hardware needed for the head tracking demo, such as the infrared dots on safety glasses, costs approximately $10 if you already own a Nintendo Wii.

What impact does the speaker believe YouTube has on the spread of innovative ideas?

The speaker believes that YouTube has greatly accelerated the speed at which innovative ideas can be shared globally. In their case, a video showcasing their work gained millions of views, prompting engineers, teachers, and students worldwide to start using and adapting the technology.

What is the significance of the rapid spread of the speaker's technology through YouTube?

The rapid spread of the speaker's technology through YouTube shows how online platforms can enable even small-scale, individual innovations to reach a global audience, fostering collaboration and accelerating the adoption of new ideas.

How does the speaker feel about the role of YouTube in the research community?

The speaker hopes that the research community will continue to embrace online video platforms like YouTube, as they offer a powerful means of distributing knowledge and fostering innovation across diverse communities.

How does the speaker view the relationship between affordability and technological access?

The speaker views affordability as crucial for democratizing technology. By creating low-cost alternatives to expensive devices, they believe more people, especially in underserved areas, can participate in technological advancements and improve their educational or work environments.