Open Source Interface

RFID applications?

2008-06-05T04:13:46-05:00

I wanted to get some ideas on how the community could use existing RFID technologies with our applications.

Anyone have any ideas on best place to buy these scanners and RFID chips?

Here is a couple examples:

[youtube]I6KBnaS2lZA[/youtube]
[youtube]6oWhmudRRE4[/youtube]

Wii fit balance board?

2008-08-20T13:47:18-05:00

I just recently stumbled upon some videos on youtube of these guys that connected a wii fit balance board to their computer to play games, surf google earth, play warcraft, etc. And from what I know (and have experienced) the balance board is VERY precise is what it does.

Im not sure how, but would it work to incorporate into MT software (as an input device obviously)? Maybe using your hands instead of standing on it?

I dont really know what I am talking about here, just throwing it out there. Any other ideas how we could use this in MT software?

Tilting Table!

2008-07-07T18:23:54-05:00

This is a bit of a crazy idea, but I think it would make an interesting variation on the current multi-touch format. The basic idea is to build a multi-touch table that tilts in several directions, and use the wiimote to relay tilt information. Obviously you’ll have to be quite inventive with the design of the table so that the projected image isn’t affected by the tilting, but I think the tilting information might be useful for some applications.

For example, you could use a sideways tilt to turn the pages of a virtual book, or to navigate through a map or maze. Or if you’ve got a drawing program, a simple tilt could clear the screen. Does anyone else have any crazy ideas for integrating tilting into multi-touch?

Wiimote Again

2008-07-09T18:37:04-05:00

I know that this has been covered before, but I don’t think anyone has really gone into the details and whether it is possible or not.

Ok, Jonny Lee built the code on the multitouch whiteboard app using this library for the wiimote: http://blogs.msdn.com/coding4fun/archive/2007/03/14/1879033.aspx

Couldn’t you take the output from that library and port it into touchlib, then use touch lib to track the IR on the application?

Now I know the wiimote can only track up to four IR points, but honestly, that’s still two fingers per hand, or four fingers on one hand. That is plenty for almost any multitouch application.

I’m no programmer, so someone else would have to do the ground work on this, but as far as availability goes, the Wii is probably the least hardware intensive, and most easily implemented multitouch input device for under $100. Why not make Touchlib compatable?

How to use a wiimote to add tangible control inputs to your multi-touch setup…

2008-07-22T11:10:41-05:00

I guess I’ll start by explaining briefly a little about the Wiimote. Basically, for £30 you’re getting a long range (approx 30ft) wireless bluetooth controller with Hardware IR Blob detection for up to 4 points (within 16ft) and three accelerometers that can measure tilting motion reasonably accurately. Also, there’s another add-on coming out soon called WiiMotion (which will also be built into the next version of wiimote), which adds two rotational sensors to the wiimote so that you will soon be able to tell the exact angle of the control at any given time.

What’s really great is that all of this data is available to use with the wiiMote C#/VB.NET Library API , and it’s dead easy to use too! (For other languages like CC++Java I think there might also be some other wiimote libraries)

WiiMotion Addon + Wiimote Accelerometers

Attaching the wiimote to create interactive handles/levers/wheels/pull strings etc..

So now that we know the wiiMote has quite a lot of sensors, we can start have fun and experiment with it! For example, today I strapped the wiimote to a piece of steel tubing to give me a handle control, which could easily be built into a multi-touch setup to give it an extra bit of interactivity. By using data from the Y axis accelerometer, I was able to make a simple input device which could be used to rotate or move in game items, which would make the perfect control for things like aiming a crossbow, revving a motorbike, table football or rotating a 3d model. You can also add a long piece of wood on the end to make a lever.

Another thing you could add for example is a spring, which would give you a spring loaded control for things like firing a weapon in game or shooting a pinball, using the accelerometer to work out how fast the ball should travel.

Or you could just tie the wiimote with some string and create a pull cord control (Virtual kite flying?!?).

Anyway.... I guess why I’ve done all this is to demonstrate that the wiimote has some really cool sensors which you can exploit to create any number of innovative input devices for your mt setup.

So get creative, start thinking outside the box and start creating new input devices using levers, spinning wheels, pull cords and anything else you can think of! Oh and lookout for the wiiMotion add-on because being able to tell the exact angle of rotation will make for some really cool input devices :D

Short range Bluetooth adaptor

2008-07-17T04:19:55-05:00

I’m looking for a bluetooth adaptor for the PC. I was thinking of a shortrange device, like a range on <1 meter/3 feet.

I want to mount it on the bottom of my box, and then coat the sides with something to block the signals, so it could only scan devices through the glass, and very close to the surface.

But I haven’t been able to find any with such a short range, so does any one know a supplier for this? Alternatively, could I limit the range in another adaptor somehow?

Wireless/bluetooth?

2007-09-02T04:20:34-05:00

Microsoft Surface has the capacity to download data from cameras, etc., wirelessly (I assume using bluetooth). Easy, but it only does this when the device is on the table-top.
One way of doing this is to have some sort of location sensor for the camera or other device, and then when a shadow is made in approximately the right place on the screen, it is assumed that the device is sitting on the screen.
But is it possible to triangulate a device’s position with bluetooth? How else could I achieve the same affect?

WIIMOTE usage in FTIR Table/Computer?

2008-02-17T01:57:07-05:00

In the minority report like video they have the wiimote on top of the tv, does anyone know how to link the wiimote to a computer. This could make FTIR tables much more easier to make an more than likely won’t bog down a computers processing power

Pulling Files Through Bluetooth And Displaying it over the table ….

2008-04-27T14:17:44-05:00

OK guys ... i have almost developed a small app. which can pull files from a bluetooth device and dump it to some local directory ...... now can someone develop a front end to show these pics over the table ??

this is just for a demo .....
as soon as a device is placed over the table, my app. will pull files from tht device, the pairing and stuff wudve been already done .....

further, ill be adding functionality based on fudicial recognition + WiFi support + multiple devices ......

PM me asap ..... plz

head tracking youtube movie (no joke, realy interesting)

2008-02-22T17:36:05-05:00

[youtube]Jd3-eiid-Uw[/youtube]

It’s about using a wii to create a 3 d image (for just one person). For this person it really works great.