Natal.

[Prodigy]

Ok guys maybe this is not new but today i found this from microsoft.. quite amazing don't you think??

[nowherebrain]

Interesting....we'll see when the "WOW" particles settle...in the end it is still just functions() getting input and sending output.....with that being said. I find it to be a breath of fresh air, and very "Neato!"

[v3rd3]

This certainly gives me some ideas regarding the iOptdetectors..... Thanks Prodigy

[First Light]

Hi Prodigy,

I learned about Natal yesterday. Exciting stuff! The press is really eating it up and saying it is orders of magnitude better than Wii. Also, it works with existing XBox 360 consoles which is also amazing.

But I can't imagine that it can maintain precision at high speed. Notice how slowly the lady gestured and you could still see what appeared to be video lag as it responded. The Natal system and the XBox must be doing some heavy duty number crunching.

Plus, Natal is reported to handle multiple users simultaneously. For example, you can have multiple people in the room---all playing a game---and it is supposed to be able to recognize who is who and track each persons gestures separately.

It will be interesting to see when it comes to market and how well it really works outside of the demo room. Just think, a really good gesture recognition system may be here and it works with just a camera---nothing to hold in your hand, no gloves or head cams, and no sensors to attach to your body. Amazing!!!

Best regards, First Light

[Prodigy]

Well far as i know TS Devs are now working for Xbox

They were working with 3D and Motion detection.

So...

Im almost sure one day we will see the name of TomasB or Vladimir around this project natal...

Quite impressive..

[Prodigy]

LS,

Yes, i thought the same when i saw different guys in front of the tv..
Complicated, but hey! i tried iopdetectors and works great!

3D Devs are smart..we need to trust in their talent

[Jack Edwards]

Interesting interactive capabilities, but it is a bit creepy. For one thing to interact with a "character" on a server on the internet, you'd have to send video and audio of yourself and your living space to the other server, which means that it is being recorded. I'm sure hackers wouldn't have any trouble intercepting that stream or spoofing the interface to spy on people. You'd have to make sure that your console was set up in a "public safe" room of your house and that everyone knew that if they went in that room that it was a "public place".

[marcel]

See the comments on youtube: curious to see how people are suspicious of the future, especially when it comes from microsoft.

[Jack Edwards]

There are other issues. With most of the countries around the world moving toward socialism/fascism, where the rights of the collective out way the rights of the individual. This kind of tool might be used by the government to monitor people's "mental health". If it reads your "emotions" from your facial expression, would Microsoft be required report people to the State that show signs of "instability"? Or are over stressed, and thus a "risk to the community"? What about people who have opinions that the State deems "hate thought" or not politically correct. Do you get sent to re-education camps?

Maybe they'll have it ask you questions and see how you respond "emotionally". Are you lying with your answers?

It doesn't even have to be government either, marketing companies can pay to have the software ask targeted questions then read your facial response in order to target advertising to you.

Considering the way everything we do is recorded these days, it's probably not something we can avoid, but privacy rights are officially a thing of the past.

[marcel]

I hope the way of futur generations will not be Matrix, Skynet or minority report. I have not gmail, facebook or other Spy. I have not a mobil phone and gps. People find it strange for a person who like computer. Maybe being free has become strange. No addiction, no control. It is the next battle of this century. The current crisis is a small warning. Addiction causes bad consumption and control reduced freedoms. The danger is that the technology is fascinating even if it is misused. I hope future generations will be smarter than us and will not be blinded by all this. I remain optimistic.