Gaming Tech Part 3

From the most recent posts, I've been discussing one and only one thing, the Microsoft Natal. The current codename for Microsoft's new interactive, gaming "controller" that requires no controller (try wrapping your head around that one). Today, we will look at some of the technology in the Natal from the hardware and software aspect and see how they have been combined to create a one of a kind device. For Natal to detect the presence of a person coming towards it, a simple motion sensor would do the trick just fine. Hopefully, the entire system can recognize the difference between a dog running around the house every 5 minutes versus a person. On the other hand, if you get the dog intrigued, then who knows? Maybe man's best friend can become the non-complaining warthog driver in Halo while you tear through the Covenant!

Now, "facial recognition, voice recognition, skeletal mapping" are all things that Microsoft Research have been working on, according to Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft Game Studios (1). Essentially, the offerings of Natal are more software based than hardware.


As you can see, the two eyes, or cameras in this case would most probably provide the depth as they work in unison, much like a normal person's eyes. The video would need to be processed in real time to figure out skeletal structure and set points of motion for the knees, wrists, head, torso, elbows, etc. These points of motion would be used to figure out how the body is moving and as a result, how the character moves in the game. Skeletal mapping in real time, would be one of the more challenging aspects of Natal for the software developers at Microsoft. However, facial and voice recognition has been around for a while and would be easier to implement.

With regards to price, the hardware of Natal might most probably comprise of two really good cameras, a motion sensor and a microphone. Produced on a mass scale and it will be easy to bring the cost down to under $200 as the reports have been suggesting. Combine that with Microsoft's policy to make a loss on every console, and you have further price cuts that should make the Natal a very intriguing device and at the least, a "game changer."

1 - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009296568_e3_new_info_on_microsofts_nata.html