Microsoft recently unveiled a new type of technology to be incorporated into their now much more powerful Xbox 360 gaming console.
The technology, dubbed “Project Natal” uses a camera to track a player's body movements via full skeletal mapping, in effect turning the player into the game controller.
The system is also able to recognize voices and vocal commands.
The system makes it easier for a player to interact with a character on screen, and even has the ability to show pictures and information to other Xbox 360 players via the internet. The technology uses full body gesture tracking, in other words it is able to pick up every movement a player makes, not just hand movements for instance.
Microsoft is also planning on integrating music streaming 'last.fm', Facebook and Twitter into its online community.
By integrating these new technologies, it seems the $50 billion dollar gaming industry is not planning on slowing down any time soon, and by incorporating these technologies the industry is sure to attract even more users in future.
Microsoft is also empowering Xbox Live users by being able to connect to Facebook and Twitter, without the necessity of using a computer.
'Project Natal' as it is called, does not seem to be scheduled for release yet in 2009 however. An exact release date is not yet known at this point in time.
Now, if we understand this correctly, playing a game like for instance tennis, on your Xbox 360 in future, may prove to be not only a source of entertainment, but also a good dose of healthy excercise. Now all we need to do is get a bigger living room for all those hard to reach shots. Anyone up for a game? :)
The technology, dubbed “Project Natal” uses a camera to track a player's body movements via full skeletal mapping, in effect turning the player into the game controller.
The system is also able to recognize voices and vocal commands.
The system makes it easier for a player to interact with a character on screen, and even has the ability to show pictures and information to other Xbox 360 players via the internet. The technology uses full body gesture tracking, in other words it is able to pick up every movement a player makes, not just hand movements for instance.
Microsoft is also planning on integrating music streaming 'last.fm', Facebook and Twitter into its online community.
By integrating these new technologies, it seems the $50 billion dollar gaming industry is not planning on slowing down any time soon, and by incorporating these technologies the industry is sure to attract even more users in future.
Microsoft is also empowering Xbox Live users by being able to connect to Facebook and Twitter, without the necessity of using a computer.
'Project Natal' as it is called, does not seem to be scheduled for release yet in 2009 however. An exact release date is not yet known at this point in time.
Now, if we understand this correctly, playing a game like for instance tennis, on your Xbox 360 in future, may prove to be not only a source of entertainment, but also a good dose of healthy excercise. Now all we need to do is get a bigger living room for all those hard to reach shots. Anyone up for a game? :)
