Wii can do so much more with a remote

On: January 10, 2008
About Maarten van Sprang
Maarten has a Bachelor degree in Communication and Multimedia Design and is working for Humanique as an interaction designer. Right now he is also finishing his thesis on the New Media Master at the University of Amsterdam. He's is very interested in new media (obviously), gaming and music.

Website
http://www.maartenvansprang.nl/wordpress    

To start off 2008 I’d like to show you some interesting videos by Johnny Chung Lee, a Ph.D. graduate student on human computer interaction. Some of you might have seen this already, but I wanted to post it on MofM nonetheless.

What Lee does is using the Nintendo remote (Wiimote) to create all sorts of different user interfaces. The first video shows a Minority Report-like interface through reflective tape on his fingertips, which reflects the infra-red light and responds to the Wiimote. The second video is a DIY multi-touch digital whiteboard display, also using the Wiimote. And in the last video he demonstrates a 3D virtual reality display, also using the Wiimote and infra-red triggers attached to glasses.

I personally don’t see us using an interface like the first video because I don’t want to wear special gloves and especially because it’s physically unbearable to interface like that all day, but it’s still a nice alternative use of the Wiimote. I would however wear a ridiculous looking hat, if it would produce the same visual effect as the last movie!

I could try and explain all these videos in detail but watching the videos gives you a much better idea…enjoy!

Tracking fingers with the Wii Remote

Low-Cost Multi-touch Whiteboard using the Wiimote

Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote

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