Smokey
06-05-2009, 07:02 PM
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2009/06/01/2009287466.jpg
Microsoft said Tuesday that it will release technology that lets people play video games by moving their bodies instead of clicking hand-held controllers. The service is tentatively called "Project Natal" and will work with any of the company's Xbox 360 consoles. The device is a horizontal bar about nine inches wide and stuffed with cameras, depth sensors and array microphones.
Microsoft's Natal doesn't use any controllers, instead it relies on a camera to capture players' movements in a 3-dimensional space. It can detect the voices and motions of people nearby, so they can interact with an Xbox and games just by talking and moving their bodies.
The system also recognizes faces, which lets it log players into games automatically. It can identify voices and take commands, as well. The users could walk up to an Xbox and use their voice to start a movie or check messages.
Prices and timing weren't available, but it won't be available until 2010 at the earliest and will probably cost around $200.
Microsoft said Tuesday that it will release technology that lets people play video games by moving their bodies instead of clicking hand-held controllers. The service is tentatively called "Project Natal" and will work with any of the company's Xbox 360 consoles. The device is a horizontal bar about nine inches wide and stuffed with cameras, depth sensors and array microphones.
Microsoft's Natal doesn't use any controllers, instead it relies on a camera to capture players' movements in a 3-dimensional space. It can detect the voices and motions of people nearby, so they can interact with an Xbox and games just by talking and moving their bodies.
The system also recognizes faces, which lets it log players into games automatically. It can identify voices and take commands, as well. The users could walk up to an Xbox and use their voice to start a movie or check messages.
Prices and timing weren't available, but it won't be available until 2010 at the earliest and will probably cost around $200.