Microsoft Unveils Powerful New Xbox 360 Gaming Technology

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? :)

Nissan Co-operation to Use New Fuel Injection System

On July 14, 2009, Nissan Motor Co, Ltd announced new technology to be implemented in their gasoline/petrol engines starting early next year, 2010. 

The Dual Injector System has been designed to reduce fuel consumption, and Nissan says this is the first technology of it's kind in the world to be used in mass production cars. The new system uses a new type of distribution system to inject fuel into the cylinders.

Instead of using just one injector per cylinder, the new system uses one injector for each port. This splits the fuel distibution as it enters the cylinder, which in turn speeds up vaporization of the fuel. (Internal combustion engines need to convert fuel from a liquid form into a vaporized form before the fuel can be ignited.) 

By configuring one injector per inlet port, instead of just one injector per cylinder, the vaporization process is completed more efficiently, breaking up the fuel particles into smaller droplets. This means that less unburnt fuel is expelled, and the fuel is actually being burnt at a much more efficient rate. 

By burning fuel more efficiently, the system thereby also reduces hydrocarbon emmisions. 

In addition, the system also adds continuous valve timing control on the exhaust side, as opposed to the usual intake-side control only. This improves the engines' heat control and raises fuel efficiency by up to 4% compared to other Nissan petrol/gas-powered engines in the same class. While the system is similar to already in-use "direct injection" systems, the systems are difficult to use on smaller sized engines, because of the need for a high-pressure pump which produces problems for efficient system design, thereby making componenet design less cost efficient. 

The Nissan Dual Injector system provides fuel to the cylinders at normal pressures, reducing the cost of such a system by about 60% compared to other engines of similar size using direct-injection. 

The new system also uses half the amount of rare materials normally used in the catalyzer, but maintains the efficiency of the catalytic converter. 

Nissan says it continues to promote the "Nissan Green Program 2010" by implementing effective technologies, products and services to the market.

Source : www.nissan-global.com

Read Press release of Nissan Co.