A colleague and I were discussing the Wiimote this afternoon. In my opinion, it is one of the most important inventions of the last few years. The array of sensors in that thing for the price tag is really impressive. And what’s better, Nintendo went with the Bluetooth standard for wireless communications, which means it’s easy to get this thing connected to a computer. There are Wiimote drivers readily available on the internet for free for most platforms.

For a budding computer scientist, especially someone interested in futuristic forms of user interface, the thing is an amazing playground, especially for the price. You get buttons, a microphone, a speaker, three gyroscopes and an infared camera for about $40. Plus, the thing is wireless and runs for a long time on two double A batteries.

This guy is a shining example of someone doing brilliant things with the wiimote.