Microsoft is apparently negotiating the proposed $35 million purchase of Israeli technology company 3DV Systems. 3DV makes a consumer video camera called Z-Cam that mounts to the top of a TV set or computer monitor allowing you to “use your body freely to control games, no wearables required, no limitations attached.” The company has raised $38.6 million in funding since its inception in 1997.
3DV acknowledges Sony’s Eye Toy, Micorosoft’s Vision camera, and the Nintendo Wii as somewhat similar ideas but says that “the revolution is still around the corner.”
“Move your hand, leg, head or finger, in any direction and setting, moving quickly or making fine, minor movement – all these gestures are easily detected and understood by the system, creating a unique personalized and immersive gaming experience. This experience is complemented by the ability to combine your own 3D image inside the game scene, in real-time.”
The technology can also be used for web conferencing, allowing a user to replace his or her background with different scenes, a feature that’s already present in various webcams from the likes of Logitech and even Microsoft itself. Taking things a step further, though, the 3DV system would let users “control applications using any intuitive hand and head gesture” along with providing face recognition in lieu of typing passwords.
Other applications include automotive safety (fatigue detection and airbag deployment), 3D vision for robotic devices that provides depth cues useful for detecting obstacles and navigating in challenging environments, and home automation via gesture controls.
It’s unclear whether Microsoft would pursue all of the various uses that 3DV’s technology offers but the implementation into Xbox 360 games and perhaps the videoconferencing angles seem that they’d be of the most interest to Microsoft right off the bat.
Can anyone vouch for the technology? If it does what it says on the box, I would be very excited.
Wii boxing is fun, but Wii karate would be a blast.
Anjali Sen
This can be a very smart move from Microsoft and push xbox 360 as a real home entertaining system and professional tool. People love interactive stuff go ask wii user about that. Microsoft should work more with the xbox 360 because the future might be in this little box.
This news is 2 days old
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE51G3M420090217
Tuesday, February 17th = yesterday.
Depending on where he lives, it may have been 2 days.
Man, Chris is right. How could a website ever post something that is 2 days old and get away with it? Good catch Dude.
Here are some demos of the tech in action:
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/18908/Report-Microsoft-Plans-to-Buy-3DV-Systems/
Thanks for the post Doug.
Does anyone have more details on how this compares to the Playstation EyeToy?
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With almost every laptop sold in the past few years having a webcam built in the screen I’m looking forward to Minority Report Win7 usage…. ok probably Win8 at this point but it’ll happen.
This kind of technology would be great for most robotics and learning aids…not just games. As an a simple example, soldiers could just gesture commands to a search-and-rescue robot. Med students could practice their operating procedures – lots of fun applications.
Reminds me of CamSpace (http://www.camspace.com), a free joystick/mouse replacement from the webcam, tested it just this week.
Reminds me the Keanu Gesture Control Interface for TV that Orange Vallee presented this year at CES :
http://www.wat.tv/video/keanu-experience-tv-interactive-17hd0_fku7_.html
This is very cool. I’m thinking about the implications that it could bring to the educational community. Are avatars a thing of the past?
Interesting technology.
Looks like Microsoft is on a buying spree in Israel.
Fantastic, this move will certainly take MS way ahead of its rival Wii and PS.
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I like to play some single-player games, the majority of games that I play are for co-operative or multiplayer experiences.