Microsoft founder Bill Gates has revealed the the camera-based Natal controller for the Xbox 360 will not be a console exclusive and is intended to appear on PCs too.
Talking to CNet, Gates said that the technology behind Natal will be used for much more than just Xbox 360 games and will also find a home on PCs, both for gaming and for other communication needs.
"I'd say a cool example of that, that you'll see... In a little over a year, is this (depth) camera thing, but for media consumption as a whole, and even if they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication," Gates said
"Both the Xbox guys and the Windows guys latched onto that and now, even since they latched onto it, the idea of how it can be used in the office is getting much more concrete and is pretty exciting,"
"And I think there's incredible value as we use that in the office connected to a Windows PC," he added.
The Natal controller system uses a variety of motion-detecting and object-recognition technologies to monitor user-interactions and create feedback based on everything from facial recognition to use of props.
Until now it was thought that the Natal system would require a new Xbox 360 to work, but that appears not to be the case. Instead, Natal will work with existing set-ups, but will be using the radical new tech to essentially re-launch the Xbox 360 in a series of new bundles.
Can't wait for Natal, or are you worried about the idea of having a geometry and face-scanning camera set up in your house and hooked up to the internet? Let us know in the forums.
Talking to CNet, Gates said that the technology behind Natal will be used for much more than just Xbox 360 games and will also find a home on PCs, both for gaming and for other communication needs.
"I'd say a cool example of that, that you'll see... In a little over a year, is this (depth) camera thing, but for media consumption as a whole, and even if they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication," Gates said
"Both the Xbox guys and the Windows guys latched onto that and now, even since they latched onto it, the idea of how it can be used in the office is getting much more concrete and is pretty exciting,"
"And I think there's incredible value as we use that in the office connected to a Windows PC," he added.
The Natal controller system uses a variety of motion-detecting and object-recognition technologies to monitor user-interactions and create feedback based on everything from facial recognition to use of props.
Until now it was thought that the Natal system would require a new Xbox 360 to work, but that appears not to be the case. Instead, Natal will work with existing set-ups, but will be using the radical new tech to essentially re-launch the Xbox 360 in a series of new bundles.
Can't wait for Natal, or are you worried about the idea of having a geometry and face-scanning camera set up in your house and hooked up to the internet? Let us know in the forums.
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