Trackmate Setup

Overview

This covers the software and hardware setup for getting a Trackmate working with Processing, using the PS3 Eye as an input device.

Software

A very quick tutorial for the entire round trip of setting up the PS3Eye getting the Trackmate Tracker working and using it with Processing. It's mainly a collection of links to avoid googling everything :p

Downloads

• Java Runtime Environment -- Install the latest JRE, it is needed for running standalone Processing apps
• PS3Eye Driver -- Install the software for the PS3 Eye
• Trackmate Tracker and Tagger -- Download both and unpack them. No installation required, but it is handy to make shortcuts to the executables.
• Processing -- Download and extract. Again, no installation needed.
• LusidOSC -- Download the simulator and Processing bundle. Just extract the files, no need to install anything.

Setting Up

• Start up Processing. You can immediately close it, but you need to verify it works and let it register filetype handles.
• Open up the LusidOSC simulator, and then open any of the PDE files provided by the LusidOSC bundle. You should be able to move the pieces in the simulator and have them work with the sample applications. Close the simulator when you're ready to proceed.
• Go into a DOS prompt (Start Menu->run, type cmd and hit enter) and then navigate to where the PS3Eye test application was installed (For me it's: cd C:\"Program Files"\AlexP) Run the following command: regsvr32 PS3Eye.ax
• Open up Trackmate Tracker and verify that you can see video (Assuming the PS3 eye is connected). Try hitting s if you have multiple cameras and it's not working, or v to change views.
• To setup the Tracker follow the guide
• Now toggle the view(Press v) till it says it's in "Fast Mode", and rerun one of the sample apps in the LusidOSC Processing bundle. And you're done.

Hardware

I started with the standard plexiglass hanger tutorial over on instructables, but found it was woefully inadequate for getting setup originally and with lots of missing steps (How do you mount the camera to the tripod for instance?). These are very simple instructions that are hopefully more correct.

Parts

• PS3Eye
• 12"x12" Frosted Plexiglass Clear acrylic makes lighting next to impossible
• 2 C-Clamps, at least 2 inches The standard rubber feet will not stick to these as the instructable would lead you to believe. So don't bother. Tape the ends if you are worried.
• Camera tripod The legs suck on the one linked, but it works decent for this since the legs don't need extended.
• Clamp light and bulb Note I used a different one I couldn't find online
• Thin piece of wood and short wood screws. Lots of duct tape can be used if you don't care how it looks.
• Extra books are handy to position the camera and clamp the light

PS3Eye Mounting

The biggest issue is that the PS3Eye can not mount to a tripod. Also I couldn't find anything that would adhere adequately to the plastic on the bottom (Epoxy, hot glue, double sided tape). You can just duct tape it on, or add a little mount detailed below:

• Cut out a small piece of wood to the shape of the PS3 bottom
• Drill a hole just smaller than the tripod's mounting screw
• Screw in the piece of wood to the tripod to make threads
• It should now look like:
• Now just predrill holes into the base of the PS3Eye and screw in three wood screws. Mine were just barely too long so I file them down
• You can now mount the PS3Eye to a tripod:

Clamping everything up

• It helps to go ahead and start up the Trackmate Tracker software
• Clamp down the acrylic frosted side up to a table
• Put the PS3Eye on the tripod and then set it up so that it points straight upwards like so:
• Hook up the PS3 Eye Cam to the computer and rotate the lense focus till the red light is on
• Put down books and put the tripod with the PS3Eye mounted to it. You want to get it as close to the acrylic as possible while still keeping the working area in view

Tags and Calibration

I used wooden chips found at a craft store. Cardboard doesn't work too well since it's not usually 100% flush against the surface. Also there is a decent calibration guide on the trackmate site itself, so I won't cover it in detail here.

Videos

3 midi sequences, height on the board controls the volume:

The 3 chips represent urls of sites, putting them on goes to the site, taking them off blanks the page:

Conclusion

I haven't actually thought of any good projects to use the Trackmate for, and have been letting it collect dust. It is a neat idea, and fairly simple to get working but outside of art and music installations (such as the Reactable) I can't think of a good use case.