XBox Fluid turns the body into a video game controller
Rumors are starting to run rampant that the XBox will beat the Wii’s casual gamer friendly motion sensing game controller by simply getting rid of the controller. In what may be an E3 announcement, XBox will use their 3DV acquisition to turn your body into a controller. The rumored XBox Fluid will use a camera to detect how your body is moving in order to let your body be the controller. So if you want to play a boxing video game, just box, don’t hold a controller.
But the implications go far beyond video games. As friends of mine who run Omek Interactive, a developer of motion sensing software for games and other applicaton, points at as that as the cameras become more precise, your body motions can become tools for a range of controls from controlling the TV (no more looking for a remote) to precise fitness training. A while back they showed me a boxing demo that was able to detect the accuracy and speed (read: knock) of a punch. That ability can be used for remote physical therapy, remote training (golf at home), and, yes, better video games.
As Connected TV’s become commonplace, this type of technology can allow people to work remotely with training professionals and play physical games such as tennis without being on the same court.
(Shameless plug – check them out at http://www.omekinteractive.com/)
Here’s a decent demo video of the technology.
