Boon Jin | 
06 28th, 2008| 
Features
- Cursor smoothing
- Outside screen area toggles
i. Simulate mouse clicks - right click and double click
ii. Simulate keyboard key presses - multiple key combinations
iii. Launch or execute any application/file which has a default viewer
iv. Store different settings files to suit different environments when required
- IR Calibration
i. Viewable calibration setup to allow easier adjustments for greater tracking utilization
ii. Configurable infrared (IR) sensitivity to allow greater range or improved accuracy
Setting Up
- Extract the zip package contents(WiimoteSmoothBoard folder) into an easy to access directory like C:\Wiimote.
- Connect a Wiimote to your computer using bluetooth. Must be discovered as a HID device.
- Run the executable file, WiimoteSmoothBoard0.1.exe.
- Calibrate Wiimote by pressing the Button A on the Wiimote.
- Optional: Configure your own settings.
Screenshots and Instructions
Above is the Wiimote Smooth Board’s main window.
Advanced Settings - Loads the Advanced Settings window which allows settings for several key features.
Quick Calibration - Calibrates the screen area with respect to the Wiimote’s position. The calibration can also be triggered by pressing the Button A of the Wiimote.
Cursor
Cursor Control - Activates or deactivates the control of the cursor when an IR pen is used.
Smoothing - Enables the cursor’s motion to be more stable by removing jitters. This is done by averaging several past coordinates. The default is 5 points but can be adjusted to your preference. Lesser points will result in more jitters while the more points will result in lesser accuracy and lag in the response time.
Below is an example of the differences that could be seen. This screenshot was produced using Wiimote Whiteboard 0.2 with smoothing.
Advanced Settings Window
This is the Advanced Settings window. The window contains two tabs; IR Tracking and Outside Screen Toggles.
IR Tracking
The IR Tracking window tab allows the modification of the infrared (IR) sensitivity and a calibration guide.
There are 6 IR sensitivity levels that are in built to the application, WiiLevel1 to WiiLevel5 and Maximum. WiiLevel3 is the default sensitivity level that is used in the Nintendo console. In depth information about the IR sensitivity can be found at WiiBrew.
If you have difficulty receiving input from the IR source that may be due to the weak IR source or the distance, you can try to gradually increase the IR sensitivity. However, higher sensitivity levels might allow stray IR sources (sun light, candles) to cause the degradation of accuracy.
On the other hand, if a strong IR sources (such as sun light) is causing the cursor to jump erratically, you can try to reduce the IR sensitivity.
Calibration
One of the useful features of the Wiimote Smooth Board is the calibration area viewer. This allows you to check the current calibration set up (screen area with respect to the Wiimote tracking area). You will be able to quickly gauge the areas that might not be in view of the Wiimote.
The White Area represents the screen area that is calibrated.
The Black Area represents the tracking area that the Wiimote can cover.
The Grey Area represents the area that cannot be tracked. Therefore, if a part of the calibrated area (White Area), falls on the Grey Area, that portion will not be clickable.
With the calibration area viewer, you can easily adjust the Wiimote’s position to obtain a better tracking utilization (Screen Area divided by Wiimote Tracking Area). After repositioning, you can click on the Calibrate button again to recalibrate the screen area.
Tips: The Black Area is the Wiimote’s ‘view’, while the White Area is the screen which is usually a fixed position. Therefore, shifting the Wiimote’s position is equivalent to the shifting of the Black Area with respect to the White Area.
For example the below screenshot shows the White Area placed at an off-center position and a portion of the White Area is outside the Black Area. Therefore, the bottom left corner of the screen will not be clickable in this configuration.
To correct this, you will have to tilt your Wiimote slightly downwards and rotate the Wiimote to the right.
Outside Screen Toggles Tab
Above is the Outside Screen Toggle tab of the Advanced Settings window. This window allows you to configure the effect of toggles around the screen area. As usually there will be some extra tracking area that is left not utilized around the screen, this application gives you the choice to turn this area into triggers.
Check the “Click Outside Screen to Toggle“ checkbox to activate this feature.
To configure a specific area, click on the required screen area (colored in lavender) in the window or select the area number from the combo box.
Currently there are 3 types of toggles available.
Mouse Click (Right Click or Double Click)- After clicking on the specified area, the configured mouse click will be only triggered on the next click location within the screen.
For example, if you have chose Right Click for a specific area, you will need to click on that area to switch to Right Click mode. Next, you just have to click on anywhere on the screen that you wanted to right click. Then, the application will automatically return to the normal left click mode.
Keyboard Key Press - This option allows a combination of up to 3 virtual keys and 1 character key. More details about the virtual key codes can be found at MSDN Virtual-Key Codes.
There are 3 combo boxes for the 3 virtual keys and a text box for the single character input.
The screenshot shows the right side area numbered as 5 being configured as a key press. It is assigned to a Volume Up key press.
Tips: Select a blank list item if you do not require the extra keys.
This screenshot shows the Click Area 7 to be assigned to a Control+C key combination which is a shortcut key for the copy command.
Load file/application - This final option allows you to launch any file that has an associated default viewer (can be opened directly through Windows Explorer).
Click on Browse File to locate the required file. If you are not looking for an executable file, you should select “All Files | *.*” in the dialog box.
The name of the file can be renamed for your own reference.
Settings File
The application allows you to switch between different settings files to suit different usages. For example, you might need different shortcuts/triggers such as for exploration in Google Earth, presentation with Powerpoint and playing media.
Reload - Resets the configurations to the previously saved settings file.
Save - Saves the current configurations into the same settings file that was used.
Save As - Saves the current configurations into another settings file. This will open a dialog box requesting you to choose the location and the filename where the settings file will be saved. The extension .ini is automatically added by the application.
Load - Allows you to switch to a previously saved settings file. Please ensure that a valid settings file is chosen.
Note: If the program fails to work, this might be due to the syntax errors in the settings file. Therefore, just delete the current settings file that is chosen by the program. The full file path of the settings file chosen can be found in the calibration.dat file. By default, the settings file will be stored in the application’s directory with the filename settings.ini.
Examples
I have included two settings files for outside screen toggles to demonstrate the features and to help you get started. You can reconfigure the shortcuts to your own preference and save as another settings file.
Windows Media Player.ini - Shortcuts for the Windows Media Player 10 are triggered when outside clicks are detected. Allow you to toggle fullscreen, change the volume, open media, play previous/next item, start/pause, and launch Windows Media Player.
General.ini - I have assigned several keyboard shortcuts to suit the general usage in Windows such as in Powerpoint. With the shortcuts, you can start the presentation,go back and forth the slides, right click and Alt+Tab to switch to another window. This is useful when you need show another application during the presentation.
To switch windows, just click and drag the assigned Alt key area to the Tab area and let go. Then, click the Tab area till you reached the desired window and click on the Alt key area again.
Videos
Click here for all the videos.
Credits
Johnny Lee for his ingenuity in creating Wiimote Whiteboard
Brian Peek for providing the WiimoteLib 1.4
My girlfriend, Stephanie Foo, for supporting me in doing this project
WiimoteProject.com users especially Ben, for their suggestions, and help in testing
Download
Warning! This version is for testing purposes, use it at your own risk.
Update: I have completed the Wiimote Smooth Board 0.2 with multiple wiimotes support and partial screen area tracking. Click here.
RAR package with executable file: Wiimote Smooth Board 0.1 BETA (Old version)
Please report any bugs or suggestions by posting a comment here or at the Wiimote Project forum. Thanks!
