Folks,

This project is just too good to keep to myself! Technology Researcher, Johhny Lee has developed a solution to create interactive whiteboards using a screen/projector, Wiimote (for motion detection), and IR pen. We have had a good level of success in our initial tests and we are looking at this solution as a possible low-cost alternative to commercial interactive whiteboards.

*Note: YouTube video above is only viewable off-campus due to filtering restrictions.

To test at home, I used a 50" DLP TV with the DVI connection on my laptop (HDMI and VGA would work as well). The software used to interface with Wiimote is Wiimote Whiteboard. There are others available; however, this application is cross-platform so it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux (we use Mac and Linux at home). Projectors can be found for around $500 now, so this solution would be viable to use at home as well. The best IR pen I've found so far is available here.

I hope some of you will find this project worth trying out. My boys are having fun learning at home using various free programs with this low-cost interactive board. Hope you all have a wonderful, well-deserved Thanksgiving Holiday. TTFN!