Development of a laser pointer mouse

[Abstract]: This dissertation is a comprehensive report on the initial stages of the development of a laser pointer mouse for use in computer driven projector based presentations. The initial aim of the project was to develop software that enables the user to control a computer using only a webcam and laser pointer in a presentation environment. The outcome of comprehensive background studies in this dissertation has found the existence of projects with working laser pointer mouse devices, but none of which had any of the features proposed for this project, especially with tracing a circle around an object to be clicked and auto-calibration. This system in this project uses the DirectShow applications programming interface in Microsoft Windows to interface with the camera, obtain a frame and detect through the use of a 'high-pass filter' the presence of the laser. The system is then able to return the position of the laser in terms of its corresponding pixel position. Reliable error tolerant laser detection, calibration, circle clicking and system integration was never achieved at this stage of the project due to a shortage of time and energy.