Projectors

You can't have an interactive whiteboard without a projector and it is important to make yours work for you as well as possible.

Unless you use a rear projection screen, when you use your whiteboard you will cast a shadow.

There are models out now that can project a useful sized image from as little as 8cm from the screen! The catch is that these 'short throw' projectors are very expensive at the moment and schools in particular struggle to find the funds for them. However, all is not lost, there are a few simple things you can do with an 'average' projector to maximise its potential.

The first and most useful thing that you can do to minimise that shadow, is to mount the projector as high as possible while still being able to use the keystone function to square up the image. I saw an installation in a classroom today that followed this principle and the result was hardly any shadow at all!

We also recommend keeping the image to approximately 1.2 - 1.5 wide as this gives the wiimote an easy view that keeps the tracking accuracy high ( remember the wiimote placement rule of thumb - twice as far back as the image is wide).

Height of image is also important. If the system is to be truly interactive it needs to be able to be reached by all users. If children are going to use it (and they should!) you may need to provide something to stand on, but even for adults, it is important to keep the top at a comfortable height.

What do you do with the thing?

Many people like the idea of getting a bit of "interactivity" into their classrooms via the wiimote project and a 3pi pen. But just as many people ask for more ideas to enhance the interactivity once the system is all up and running.
Here goes a wonderful music website that not only will help you with a bit of interactivity but also give you and your class a dash of creativity. All made better with your wiimote system.
Try out http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/index.htm and give your music lessons a lift. This is a great site for beginners and experienced musicians alike.
This site even lets you write music in the style of your favourite musician; from Fergie to U2, Eric Clapton to Lenny Kravitz!
Go on, knock yourself out!

Holding the pen

It might come incredibly second nature to the more experienced users of the wiimote/interactive whiteboard experience, but to many novices simply holding the pen and getting the thing to work can be troublesome.
The most important thing to remember is that the wiimote has to see the IR light on the end of your pen. If you're holding the pen in such a way that your hand blocks the natural line/view of the wiimote then you won't have a lot of luck getting the system to work.
It doesn't take long to get used to this however, and with a little bit of practice everything works brilliantly well.
Of course one way to minimalise all this is to position your wiimote up high, ideally beside a ceiling mounted data projector. With this wiimote positioning I've successfully used the system with my back to the dataprojector! Still, that's hardly good teaching technique with your back to the audience though is it!

Fake Wiimotes

To make the system work you obviously need a Wiimote (more correctly called a Nintendo remote controller). You can buy a genuine one from any electronics retailer for around $100nzd ($48usd) and sometimes a little cheaper on special. However, people are always looking for a bargin and several 'unofficial' brands are available at a reduced price.

Well, our advice is not to waste your money on the fakes. Have a look at this thread from the Wiimote Project http://www.wiimoteproject.com/annoucements/fake-wimotes-be-warned/ .
The consensus is to stay clear of them. This is a key reason why 3Pi took the trouble to become authorised resellers of genuine Nintendo wiimotes. The performance of the originals is simply better!