The Wiimote and Beyond: Spatially Convenient Devices for 3D User Interfaces

The Nintendo Wii Remote (Wiimote) has served as an input device in 3D user interfaces (3DUIs) but differs from the general-purpose input hardware typically found in research labs and commercial applications. Despite this, no one has systematically evaluated the device in terms of what it offers 3DUI designers. Experience with the Wiimote indicates that it´s an imperfect harbinger of a new class of spatially convenient devices, classified in terms of spatial data, functionality, and commodity design. This tutorial presents techniques for using the Wiimote in 3DUIs. It discusses the device´s strengths and how to compensate for its limitations, with implications for future spatially convenient devices.