Awesome Software

Promethean (makers of ActivBoards) have released a free version of their very popular software that is awesome on wiimote interactive boards. Their 'personal' edition of ActivInspire can be downloaded free. It is a stripped down version of their main product but is still full of highly useful tools and features. One that is really handy in the classroom is the floating clock tool. It can be set to count down or up and can display in both digital and analogue, is completely resizeable and can be positioned anywhere in a window.

Another one that is very cool is the spotlight tool. Using this tool you can draw attention to particular parts of the screen and keep interest high as you reveal the whole image.

Calibration dots

When you start SmoothBoard up you need to calibrate the image so that the wiimote knows where the pen is. To do this, you use your computer mouse to click on "Quick Calibration".

A circle with a cross in it will appear in the top left corner of the image.

As you click on the circle another one will appear in the top right corner. There are four in total. If a circle won't disappear, it is likely that either your hand is blocking the wiimote's view or the wiimote needs to be slightly shifted towards that circle.

If the circles ever seem to click themselves without you doing anything, it is highly likely that there is stray infrared light in the wiimote's view. If so, it is time to pull a curtain.