The good, the bad, and the ugly…

A couple weeks ago I intended to try to create as comprehensive a comparison of whiteboard equivalent systems as I could. I wanted to compare and evaluate some of the related hardware too. Since then I have been given a number of succeeding problems related to the things I ordered, the software I downloaded, and generally the quality of almost everything I tried to get… I am still rather discouraged by this.

I ordered an InfraRed Pen to use with a Wiimote system from one of the growing list of online ‘businesses’ which seem to be expanding like mushrooms, using technology and ideas from open source sites on the internet. I intended to buy some of these ‘tools’ to show any teachers who happened upon this blog, that it is possible to get this sort of technology with little money, and without the need to get too involved with fabricating hardware and debugging computer code…

So far, I haven’t gotten enough hardware to work such that I would be able to even look at any of the software… This certainly doesn’t bode well for my thoughts toward some of these budding internet entrepreneurs trying to make a few bucks…

I have worked in the electronics industry for twenty years and have been responsible for designing, fabricating, testing, and documenting a wide variety of evaluation systems, test systems and general hardware and software. I think that I am in the position to be able to fairly evaluate some of these Wiimote related whiteboard replacement systems, the same went for my failed attempt to get the atlas Gloves system to work.

I suppose I should mention that getting systems like this to work is more complex that most would think. Any of these systems are supposed to work with the computer that you have… There are many different types of systems out there, a growing list of operating systems (if only in Windows!) that need to be tested, a wide variety of Bluetooth adaptors to check, and the need to provide a lot of basic documentation as to how to effectively get the software to work (or even to be able to ‘talk’ with the hardware). This takes a lot of development time.

All of the hardware I bought online came with literally nothing as far as any sort of documentation, serial numbers, or even any identifiable online forums (that have anybody online…since 2007!). all in all, I give the ‘retail’ portion of this system evaluation I was intending to do an “F”. This is a rather hard judgment to make, and I sincerely hope that some of these online ‘businesses’ try harder to provide some sort of service to what could be a growing clientele.

For me, I will continue to debug some of the code, and I intend to put up a DOCUMENTED schematic, parts list, and step by step details in how to construct an INFRARED LED pen. Actually this is an amazingly simple home project (on the lines of a doorbell circuit…), and the fact that there are people selling them that don’t work is still a topic which makes my head spin (in disgust!).

For any teachers, or any people who would like to create a relatively cheap interactive presentation system, I intend to try to get you as much “real’ information as I can manage (i.e. I will put up real information on how to construct your own IR pen), and I also intend put up a ‘Pepsi Challenge’ on the software that is currently out there. So stay tuned!

P.S. I suppose I should mention that I could have been a LOT more negative about these ‘products’ if they were from “real’ companies!