This essay reflects on the presentation held by Jonny Lee which was broadcasted by Ted-talk on April 2008. Lee is a modern age inventor who focusses his research and designs on the modification and simplification of applications and technologies. A benefit for the broad public is one of his greater goals motivating his work. This particular presentation furthermore explains how to use a simple Wii remote controller together with a projector or screen to build up an interactive screen or even to simulate a 3-Dimensional (3D) feeling on a flat display.
The basic idea for the modified use came from a simple game with the Nintendo Wii remote controller. By the producers definition the device “responds to motion and rotation for enhanced control as you swing, swipe, thrust, or turn the controller” (Nintendo, 2012). In order to detect these sense motions the Nintendo Wii console uses a built in high performing infrared camera.
This particular aspect of the remote’s functions became the focus for further research. The capability of the controller to detect motions offered, in Lee’s opinion, huge potential for a modified use of the technology. What he furthermore decided was to use the remote controller, with the infrared camera on top, together with a projector, to build his own interactive screen.
His invention basically uses three hardware components and the conformable software to control the hardware. The modification of the single parts consists of the following three steps:
First there is the computer connected to a projector which allows him to display his information onto the wall. Second there is the Wii remote control which is located next to the projector so that it is possible to track the movements onto the screen. The third part is a sort of pointer or pen. The pen is essentially build out of a battery, a button and has a small infrared LED on the top. By pressing the button the infrared camera will know the location