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Abstract—Technology brings the tools of empowering the was redesigned into a more specific whiteboard emulation
hands and minds of the people who use them. We are moving to a software viz. Echo, which is based on Brian Peek’s .Net
new phase of development where we need technologies to be library– WiimoteLib [1]–[3]. The basic functionality includes
efficient. They should be light on resources, so that they can be annotation, sharing the written material over a shared
made available to everyone. Today, to access the world, people
connection.
need skills like collaboration, teamwork, creative problem solving
and more. Thus there is need of evolving emerging technologies
into more revolutionary forms such that they require least Second study is in development stage. According to the
dependencies. In this paper, we present two studies on making thesis, an array of LEDs and LDRs emulates a touch
interactive systems based on low cost hardware. In the first responsive display. Most of these diodes are available
study, we demonstrate an Interactive whiteboard (IWB) which everywhere in the electronics market. This system costs
relies on readily available hardware. In the second, we explain a approximately $5.
system consisting of an array of LEDs and LDRs, which can be a
cheap alternative to touch responsive displays.
II. LOW COST INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD
Keywords—Array, Dependencies, Hardware, IWB, LDR, LED,
Technology
A. Existing Whiteboard technologies
I. INTRODUCTION A traditional classroom struggles to adapt according to the
demand of today’s educational needs. This may be due to
T echnology is like weather which changes with the spinning
globe. Most of these are designed to work in background
without being known to the end user. However the general
lesser funds, but this is a disadvantage of the technology that to
solve the problem, it requires so many resources that it
becomes unaffordable. Table 1 shows the various IWBs
issue is being light on resources. Technology is of no use if it
available in the market. As per the Table 1, Whiteboards
takes too much of load to meet the requirement. While things
cannot be availed to low budgeted schools and colleges. If we
are getting cheaper and smaller, technologies have to be smart
compare the mentioned products with our IWB (explained in
enough otherwise they will get diluted to other forms or they
this paper), prices get reduced to1/4th.
will simply vanish. Another issue is availability. What if the
approach solves the problem but is not available to all the end
This study presents an opportunity to every school and
users. Same type of problem can be solved by many
college to get equipped with the aids which simplifies the
technological approaches. In such a case, the main issue that
experiences of learning and teaching. Thus, the paper
matters is availability, which makes difference between a
simplifies the technologies used today.
successful approach and others.
Hardware on which this IWB relies, is commonly available.
First study describes how the use of simple hardware can It includes a Wii remote, an Infrared LED pen and a Projector.
change the way we see a classroom whiteboards today. The
whole system costs approximately $30. We used a Wii The calibration and mouse cursor emulation software
Remote [1], an Infrared LED pen and a software to digitalize
namely Echo, is an open source software (source code and the
the teaching and learning experience. The Wii Remote is the
binaries are not yet available on the internet) which is a light
primary controller for the Wii (pronounced : we) gaming
weight , cross platform application. It communicates with the
console. This design allows users to control the game using
physical gestures as well as traditional button presses [1]– Wii Remote to track the Infrared blobs. This data is then used
[2].The calibration and mouse cursor emulation software to simulate the cursor.
TABLE I
PRODUCT AND COSTS OF AVAILABLE IWBS
Manuscript received November 9, 2010. Product Quantity
Asheesh Sharma is with Arya College of Engineering & I.T, SP-40/42, Polyvision ēno Classic 2610 $2,667.00
Kukas Industrial Area (RIICO),Delhi Road, Jaipur (Rajasthan) India. He is
Plus UPIC Interactive Panel $940.00
pursuing B. Tech from the same. (e-mail: Asheeshkrsharma@hotmail.com).
PolyVision TS 620 $995.00
Harshal Akhouri is with Arya College of Engineering & I.T, SP–40/42,
Kukas Industrial Area (RIICO),Delhi Road, Jaipur (Rajasthan) India. He is PolyVision ēno Click 2650 $1695.00
pursuing B. Tech from the same. (e-mail harshalakhouri@hotmail.com). Various whiteboards and their prices [4].
2
C. System B. System
Wii Remote can be connected to PC via Bluetooth, The system consists of a chip with integrated units of LEDs
BlueSoleil [1]-[5] easily connects them together. After that and LDRs. LDRs are placed just below the LEDs. Now when a
Echo automatically detects that a Wii Remote is available on LED is touched, the depression due to the touch causes light to
the PC, and shows calibration screen. Wii Remote is pointed scatter on the LDR which increases its resistance. This
towards the projection screen keeping in mind that Wii information is monitored by microcontroller. Since every
Remote has a limited viewpoint angle. The arrangement of the individual unit has a different physical location, the system
system is shown in Figure 1. can detect the location of a touch within the calibration area.
Figure 2 shows arrangement of the units in the chip.