Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote
Why Hacker News recommends it
It is the classic reference for head-tracked parallax displays, cited whenever new 3D or holographic display tech appears.
What it is
Johnny Lee demonstrates head tracking with a Wii remote and a head-mounted pair of IR LEDs, so a screen acts like a window into a 3D scene as your head moves.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2010 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec slyn · 2010-01 · on “Proof of Concept - See through OLED screen on a laptop”
Specifically: [this video] Check out his entire youtube channel, it is full of interesting software/hardware hacks.
Strong rec DonHopkins · 2016-11 · on “Shadows and Blur Effects in Modern UI Design”
Check out Johnny Lee's awesome "Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the WiiRemote"! [this video] More great stuff: [LINK]
Recommends mattowen_uk · 2021-04 · on “This is what Doom looks like on a holographic display”
> [this video] I did this at the time. I downloaded his Wii app that shows the little red/white discs, and bought a battery powered Wii-bar thing that had the IR leds in it and strapped it to my head. Can confirm, the 3D effect is 100% spot on, even the smallest move of your head caused the display to adjust perspective and your brain is totally fooled into thinking the Wii display is a just a window into a 3D scene. tbh, it was the only cool thing I actually did with my Wii!
Cites arohner · 2011-01 · on “Why 3D doesn't work and never will.”
This particular implementation will probably never work, but that doesn't mean "3D movies" in some form will never work. This guy built a stunning demonstration giving a 3d effect with a wiimote and a standard TV: [this video]
Cites rkalla · 2011-07 · on “Augmented Reality 3d Video on iPad with Kinect ”
So damn clever... releasing an SDK for the Kinect[1] was one of the smartest things Microsoft could have ever done and I think has gone a long way to contribute to it being the fastest selling piece of hardware in history[2] (did anyone know that? I sure didn't, and barely believed it reading it). This reminds me a lot of what Johnny Lee did with the Wii soon after it was released with head-tracking 3D[3] Part of me wants to stop using a computer and take up beet-farming because the cool factor seems so much less than what these guys are doing. Anyone on HN actively toying with a Kinect and want to share some video? [1] [LINK] [2] [LINK] [3] [this video]
Cites wtracy · 2012-06 · on “Anamorphic Projections and the Floating Mona Lisa”
Johnny Lee's work with the WiiMote uses the same technique, and his demo is much more visually impressive. :-) [this video]
Cites aylons · 2013-09 · on “Go Pro on a soaring eagle [video]”
Actually, stereoscopic vision is overrated. There are many hits our brain uses to make the 3D model of the world we have on our minds. Stereoscopic vision is one of them, but really just kick in for objects nearer than you arm cam hold. For distant objects, our brain uses other hints - that's why people aiming at far objects close one of their eyes. One of the strongest is the parallax effect, specially for medium distance and relative distance between objects. If you doubt it, look at this video: [this video] Relative size and color fading works well for big distances - this is the prominent effect in parachuting videos. These are only two mecanisms, and immersion is not only about 3D sensation.
Cites magicalist · 2014-02 · on “Project Tango”
"- Johnny Lee and the ATAP-Project Tango Team" Johnny Lee was the guy with the awesome Wii Controller demos back in 2007 (can't believe it's been that long). [this video] edit: here's the full set of demos: [LINK] (also, I'm assuming it's the same guy, but his site says he's at Google now)