Kinect and it's effects on the WORLD.

[SouLeSS]

New technology is coming. Fast. In 10 years, who knows where we'll be, it's almost impossible to tell. However, we might have just gotten a glimpse at the future with Microsofts "Project Natal".

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10253892-235.html


What we know on how it works so far:

The test system was an ordinary Xbox 360, connected to small PC and camera that simulates the final Natal rig. There are two cameras—one RGB, for face recognition and display video, and one infrared, for tracking movement and depth. Why infrared? The eye doesn't see infrared light. And when you combine an infrared camera with an infrared emitter (also part of Natal), a room is flooded with a spectrum of invisible light that works in the dark.

Natal also has its own internal processing system handling an unspecified amount of the heavy lifting behind Natal's cleaver image and speech recognition. It breaks the human body into 48 points tracked in real time, and it can sense your whole body in Z space, or depth. In fact, on a heat map that measured depth, my hands appeared hotter than my shoulders—because they were closer.

Natal is so smart, in fact, that, if your room is narrowed by a pair of couches, it can signal to a game to narrow the level. It can see about 15' x 20' of a room, according to project leader Kudo Tsunoda's informal estimation.

Now, as we all know, the Father of All Lies presented the Milo program, and as we should be able to guess, it was being manipulated and was slightly scripted. That's great on it's own because it's showing us that they're moving ever so close to that technology.

What technology? Virtual Reality, holograms, and that kind. Think about it. In a few years when Microsoft is finished pumping it's billions into this technology, the world will change. There won't be a need to movie ticket tellers anymore. You'll be able to talk up, and talk to the "AMC Teller Ashley" program, get the right tickets, summaries on movies, so on and so forth without actually talking to a real person.

Can you guys fathom what this means? I mean, really, really wrap your heads around what this new technology is giving way to. Sure, Sony has an awesome motion sensor thing in that it's 1:1 and pinpoint accurate. But all they did was one-up the Wiimote. The Natal? That's almost "too sci-fi" to be real. Or, at least, it was 10 years ago.

 

[Addendum]

I'll pass

 

[amazingfantasy15]

New technology is coming. Fast. In 10 years, who knows where we'll be, it's almost impossible to tell. However, we might have just gotten a glimpse at the future with Microsofts "Project Natal".

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/projectnatal/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10253892-235.html


What we know on how it works so far:


Now, as we all know, the Father of All Lies presented the Milo program, and as we should be able to guess, it was being manipulated and was slightly scripted. That's great on it's own because it's showing us that they're moving ever so close to that technology.

What technology? Virtual Reality, holograms, and that kind. Think about it. In a few years when Microsoft is finished pumping it's billions into this technology, the world will change. There won't be a need to movie ticket tellers anymore. You'll be able to talk up, and talk to the "AMC Teller Ashley" program, get the right tickets, summaries on movies, so on and so forth without actually talking to a real person.

Can you guys fathom what this means? I mean, really, really wrap your heads around what this new technology is giving way to. Sure, Sony has an awesome motion sensor thing in that it's 1:1 and pinpoint accurate. But all they did was one-up the Wiimote. The Natal? That's almost "too sci-fi" to be real. Or, at least, it was 10 years ago.

We better be at flying cars!

 

[ProjectPat2280]

This technology, maybe not Natal per-se, but this tech, is the future of this industry. The days of sitting on the couch with a controller are on their way out.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Sure, Sony has an awesome motion sensor thing in that it's 1:1 and pinpoint accurate. But all they did was one-up the Wiimote. The Natal? That's almost "too sci-fi" to be real. Or, at least, it was 10 years ago.

Weren´t you the one that, when i said that the Sonymote was just a 1:1 wiimote, you said that, if that was the case, Natal was just an Eye Toy.
What gives?? (and if you say you didn´t said that, i can show you.)
I´m glad you actually looked at both technologies without the PS fanboy eyes.
I´m not even saying that the Sonymote is bad, because it´s not, it´s better than the Wiimote (the Sony one does motion control in a 3D space because of the camera, and the Wiimote and nunchuck on a 2D space), but Natal is way better than both combanied.
Now, the question is, will the developers be able to make it work?

 

[William_C]

I cant imagine playing a game without a controller. I definitely cant imagine having a character in a game, talk directly to me and commenting on my artwork

 

[SouLeSS]

Weren´t you the one that, when i said that the Sonymote was just a 1:1 wiimote, you said that, if that was the case, Natal was just an Eye Toy.
What gives?? (and if you say you didn´t said that, i can show you.)
I´m glad you actually looked at both technologies without the PS fanboy eyes.
I´m not even saying that the Sonymote is bad, because it´s not, it´s better than the Wiimote (the Sony one does motion control in a 3D space because of the camera, and the Wiimote and nunchuck on a 2D space), but Natal is way better than both combanied.
Now, the question is, will the developers be able to make it work?

Wiimote != WiiMotionPlus. But, the PS3M is just a WiiMote stepped up, I don't recall ever saying otherwise. I know that I was talking about how promising it is, because it is, but all it's ever really been was what the Wiimote was originally supposed to be, with the processing ability of the PS3.

I think if developers get into the mindset of "what features can we add to games that we can't add because of the controller", which are things like I described above. Being able to pull out some nox by using your fingers to your face and moving your head around instead of hitting a few buttons and viewing around with the analog stick. Stuff like that.

 

[SouLeSS]

I cant imagine playing a game without a controller. I definitely cant imagine having a character in a game, talk directly to me and commenting on my artwork

Imagine playing Fallout 4 or the next KOTOR game, or Mass Effect 3 and instead of choosing 1 of 4 options "Good, bad, neutral, evil", you actually say what you want and the game reacts. That's the next step that Natals saying they can bring, and that right there alone makes me **** my pants in anticipation, even if I know it wont happen for another half a decade.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

Wiimote != WiiMotionPlus. But, the PS3M is just a WiiMote stepped up, I don't recall ever saying otherwise. I know that I was talking about how promising it is, because it is, but all it's ever really been was what the Wiimote was originally supposed to be, with the processing ability of the PS3.

In the E3 2009, page 34 i said:

If Eye Toy can make what it was shown with the Milo kid, i give you reason, if not no, you´re wrong.
Not to defend MS or anything, but Eye Toy doesn´t even come close to what Natal is.
Voice recognition, facial recognition, 3D motion, full body, and from what´ve read, it can even recognize your fingers individually and i guess that´s just the tip of the iceberg, it will evolve even more until release, which i believe, not before Fall 2010....so...c´mon....

You can say that Eye Toy paved the way, but that´s it, and it paved it very lightly in comparison.

and you replied:

Right. So it's about as similar to the EyeToy as the Wiimote is to the PS3M.

See, but the PS3M is actually similar to the Wiimote, just like you said.
But it´s all good

I think if developers get into the mindset of "what features can we add to games that we can't add because of the controller", which are things like I described above. Being able to pull out some nox by using your fingers to your face and moving your head around instead of hitting a few buttons and viewing around with the analog stick. Stuff like that.

But, imo, there is still one problem, you can never take your eyes of the screen, so, how do you turn the camera and look around?
If you look up, you´ll looking to the ceiling, and by that, take your eyes of the screen.
It would work wonderfuly if you are surrounded by TV screens....

But i totally agree, that´s the future...just don´t let Teardrop hear you

Yeah, you should look at the thread "The future of gaming" in the Misc Forum.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Imagine playing Fallout 4 or the next KOTOR game, or Mass Effect 3 and instead of choosing 1 of 4 options "Good, bad, neutral, evil", you actually say what you want and the game reacts. That's the next step that Natals saying they can bring, and that right there alone makes me **** my pants in anticipation, even if I know it wont happen for another half a decade.

I think Natal is cool and all, but I don't ever want to be talking to my tv.

 

[Crook]

This technology, maybe not Natal per-se, but this tech, is the future of this industry. The days of sitting on the couch with a controller are on their way out.

We're a long ways from that. Tactile feedback is a major advantage with controllers. Not to mention that not everyone wants to have to play with air or make widespread movements for every navigational aspect in a game. That does get tedious.

I can see room for both appliances, but I don't see a chance (anytime soon) that we'll be seeing a world without keyboards and controllers.

Imagine playing Fallout 4 or the next KOTOR game, or Mass Effect 3 and instead of choosing 1 of 4 options "Good, bad, neutral, evil", you actually say what you want and the game reacts. That's the next step that Natals saying they can bring, and that right there alone makes me **** my pants in anticipation, even if I know it wont happen for another half a decade.

...that will NEVER happen in our lifetime. The logistics of even remotely planning that (for a video game, no less) is exponentially improbable.

 

[DorkyFresh]

i don't think Natal will be as revolutionary as people make it out to be. it will be a cool peripheral, ala PSEye except with voice recognition...but it's not the 'future of gaming'. until they make a game that you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT use controllers to play, then controller-less peripherals (no matter what fancy name they give them or how technologically advanced they are) will always play 2nd fiddle to games with controllers.

 

[Isildur´s Heir]

I just found this out...

Remember Johnny Lee?
The guy that made some crazzy s**t with the Wii?
He is working with Microsoft on Project Natal...

 

[William_C]

Imagine playing Fallout 4 or the next KOTOR game, or Mass Effect 3 and instead of choosing 1 of 4 options "Good, bad, neutral, evil", you actually say what you want and the game reacts. That's the next step that Natals saying they can bring, and that right there alone makes me **** my pants in anticipation, even if I know it wont happen for another half a decade.

Just the thought of it all is epically mind blowing. I'd love that.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I think Natal is cool and all, but I don't ever want to be talking to my tv.

Have you played EndWar? The technology is already there and worked really well with EndWar.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Have you played EndWar? The technology is already there and worked really well with EndWar.

I didn't say it was impossible. I said that I never want to be talking to my TV.

 

[SouLeSS]

...that will NEVER happen in our lifetime. The logistics of even remotely planning that (for a video game, no less) is exponentially improbable.

I get where you're coming from, but I don't think it's that far off. Seaman on Dreamcast had you talking to the TV. Albiet, not at the length something like KOTOR would be, but that game did a pretty good job of speech recognition and it was back almost 10 years ago.

 

[SuBe]

I am looking forward to this NATAL. It, if implemented the way they say it will, will redefine Gaming and Lounging. I'm not one to play Rock Band or any of those accessory style games. The thought of me saying "Hello Computer, play Movie" and waving my hand and selecting a movie is amazing. Milo will be amazing. I am not going to stand infront of a tv and wave my ass like a jackass, but if I walk infront of my tv and it says "Hello Shawn, how was your day?", I'd be happy.

It's almost the Holodeck, or really, a window to the holodeck. Imagine having this, 4 Wall Projectors synced to run an Enviroment. You could pretend to walk around a forest, and the images are shown on each wall. It's Almost there.

 

[Raiden]

I'm on the fence of having controller-less games for Natal, because I think there are some games with certain depth and complexity that required a controller. But I think integrating Natal into existing and future 360 games will be a brilliant move, and help push the boundaries of gaming and beyond.

 

[Tron Bonne]

I personally am not too interested in it. I'm not really a fan of the motion thing (never have been, even when with arcade machines back in the day) and the whole idea of talking to NPCs simply seems unneeded to me. People seem to be throwing out that it'll make game immersion better, but I'm finding where I'm at as far as immersion goes is more than enough.

 

[Soapy]

Yeah, I think games are plenty immersive already as well. Not to mention that games are very relaxing to me. Having a conversation with my televsion and jumping around and waving my arms...not so much.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

I just found this out...

Remember Johnny Lee?
The guy that made some crazzy s**t with the Wii?
He is working with Microsoft on Project Natal...

YES!!!!!! This whole idea has my heart racing. It seems like Johnny Lee has crossed face tracking with the mid-air controls. But how does it work without infrared I wonder...

 

[GL1]

This technology, maybe not Natal per-se, but this tech, is the future of this industry. The days of sitting on the couch with a controller are on their way out.

This line of thought is so common, and so silly. Natal can create a new genre of gaming, but it cannot take over for FPS, RPG, Racing, or Action/Adventure games.

With the Wii mote I can almost understand-- that actually has a mechanic for moving the character, but the Natal can only be used for track games and is no more a threat -less actually - to the FPS than a light gun. It's really a silly concern.

Even IF there were some newfangled control tech that could conceivably replace the control, you still have all the developers who love and know how to develop for the controller. Controllers aren't going anywhere. Ps4 will still have the same controllers that PS has always had. MS and Wii will follow suit.

I cant imagine playing a game without a controller. I definitely cant imagine having a character in a game, talk directly to me and commenting on my artwork

You're missing it, man. You already *do* play games that don't require a controller, you just don't put them in your PSWii60. What the Natal does is bring other games, other genres to the console gaming world, which is good if for no other reason than it gives all the genres that will always have controllers exposure.

And on top of that, if this technology is integrated into the genres we have now, we'll have something several orders more incredible. Imagine instead of making dialogue choices on a screen, having the option to simply speak to the other characters in an RPG. Imagine how much more devastating you can be in an FPS if you can use items, issue commands, open doors, equip certain weapons, reload, call in airstrikes and the like without taking your finger of the trigger. Imagine the furniture in your PS home naturally morphing to match your real life decor, if you so choose.

And then, after we get done with not replacing the controller, enhancing the controller, then you get into what Natal could do for the world. Automated tellers that aren't complete and utter madness. I love it for that possibility alone. Living commercials, hand motions to change the radio dial in your car. Affordable voice and face recognition security systems. This is world-changing stuff. There's nothing stopping you from making KITT at this point.

On top of that, AI relationships could be a whole new genre of entertainment. Like Tamagochi on mutant-enchanted-steroids.

 

[SouLeSS]

And then, after we get done with not replacing the controller, enhancing the controller, then you get into what Natal could do for the world. Automated tellers that aren't complete and utter madness. I love it for that possibility alone. Living commercials, hand motions to change the radio dial in your car. Affordable voice and face recognition security systems. This is world-changing stuff. There's nothing stopping you from making KITT at this point.

I agree 100%. I've tried to explain this to other sites, but they mostly cannot grasp it. They can't put their heads around the fact that the whole NATAL thing at it's core really is the first steps to everything you mentioned above. The possibilities for it's practical use are immesurable, and add to the fact that MICROSOFT is developing this software/system so they can put billions into it to get the R&D for it perfect.

At first, I really wasn't impressed and thought it was rather lackluster. But that was because at the time I couldn't really think of a practical game that would use no-controllers that wouldn't just be a casual game like Wiisports is. But once you look into it, and expand your train of thought to get OUTSIDE of it being useful for just gaming, your mind just might explode.

 

[Tron Bonne]

At first, I really wasn't impressed and thought it was rather lackluster. But that was because at the time I couldn't really think of a practical game that would use no-controllers that wouldn't just be a casual game like Wiisports is. But once you look into it, and expand your train of thought to get OUTSIDE of it being useful for just gaming, your mind just might explode.

It's not that hard to think outside the gaming possibility for this tech, but to be fair, this is a gaming board (within a comic book centered forum), so I'm sure most people here are thinking in gaming terms. If this were a general tech board I'm sure it would be a different story.