Low-Cost Multi-touch Whiteboard using the Wiimote
Johnny LeeCited 4× on HN, 2010–2023
demo · general · 2010–2023 on HN
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.
HN cites it as a clever low-budget hardware hack and as an example of novel Wiimote uses that never became commercial.
Up next
12 mo on HN8-bit computer update
Ben Eater
14 HN recommender · 2017–2023
12 mo on HNReverse emulating the NES to give it SUPER POWERS!
suckerpinch
12 HN recommender · 2018–2025
11 mo on HN“Hello, world” from scratch on a 6502 — Part 1
Ben Eater
11 HN recommender · 2019–2026
8 mo on HNShenzhen: The Silicon Valley of Hardware (Full Documentary) | Future Cities | WIRED
WIRED Investigations
8 HN recommender · 2016–2022
8 mo on HN"Programming a 144-computer chip to minimize power" - Chuck Moore (2013)
Strange Loop Conference
7 HN recommender · 2021–2024
7 mo on HNThe world's worst video card?
Ben Eater
8 HN recommender · 2019–2024
6 mo on HNHow does a USB keyboard work?
Ben Eater
7 HN recommender · 2021–2025
4 mo on HNBrick Assembly
Ancient
4 HN recommender · 2023–2025
4 mo on HN"Z2" - Upgraded Homemade Silicon Chips
Sam Zeloof
4 HN recommender · 2021–2026
4 mo on HNE-paper hacking: fastest possible refresh rate
Applied Science
4 HN recommender · 2018–2021
4 mo on HNC++ Exceptions for Smaller Firmware - Khalil Estell - CppCon 2024
CppCon
5 HN recommender · 2025–2026
4 mo on HNBuilding a 6800 CPU on an FPGA with nMigen (part 1)
Robert Baruch
3 HN recommender · 2020–2021
4 comments from Hacker News
... 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
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
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 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