The true importance of Natal to our future is gradually being revealed.
Initially it was presented at E3 ’09 as a gesture interface for the Microsoft Xbox 360 that was technically superior to its competitors and which held a huge amount of intriguing promise for the future of gaming. So it is massively significant.
Then Microsoft said that they would be relaunching the 360 on the back of Natal, as it would be like a new platform generation. Fair enough, this is obviously getting more massively significant.
Then it takes Bill Gates to drop the bombshell in this CNET interview. Natal is not just for Xbox, it is for Windows too. And for far, far more than just gaming: “I’d say a cool example of that, that you’ll see is kind of stunning, in a little over a year, is this (depth-sensing) camera thing… Not just for games, but for media consumption as a whole… If they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication.”
He then goes on: “Well, I think the value is as great for if you’re in the home, as you want to manage your movies, music, home system type stuff, it’s very cool there. And I think there’s incredible value as we use that in the office connected to a Windows PC. So Microsoft research and the product groups have a lot going on there, because you can use the cost reduction that will take place over the years to say, “Why shouldn’t that be in most office environments?” ”
This is big. It is a long time since the mouse was added to the keyboard as the standard PC interface. Now we are going to an altogether higher level. Face, skeletal and voice recognition brought to the PC in one go. The possibilities are limitless and it will allow us humans to do so many things that we couldn’t do before.
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Right on, brother. Out of all the news stories covering Natal and Gate’s meandering comments, yours is the only one that doesn’t have the feel of hype but still portrays the feeling of excitement we all (should) have over the possibility of another interface revolution. You have another reader.
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Pure hype. Microsoft is grasping at straws as its world falls apart around it. Not a leader in games. Not a leader in the Internet. Not a leader in interfaces. Shrinking lead in operating systems. They sound desperate for some technology to stick, but I doubt it will be this one.
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Iraj,
I suggest that you read this: https://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/17/fanboys/
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Agree with Iraj.
They are desperate trying to find a way… They are really clueless, and, will try to sell this as the Holy Grail…
Let’s see what comes from this. Remember Sega and the Activator ??? Dead on arrival… Tsc Tsc Tsc…
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i like bill gates uncle
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I will be getting a kinect even if it is not at launch. I think the features of this device are very convenient and ingaging. I would rather talk to my xbox and interact with it in order to get my media, rather than point and press with a game pad.
Also the games that i have seen for the kinect are easy to pick up and play. I think it has the potential to bring new people to the system.
I think if hardcore gamers gave this device a chance they’d come to enjoy the features.
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HE IS GOD FOR ME.
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hey man , gates did some thing , but do you think he did all thing ? i dont .
some day no one will remember him , coz another man will be on the stage .
may be you !