Sony patents 'Wii Camera'

[Galactus]

Thursday 20-Jul-2006 10:40 AM Japanese reports indicate that Sony's new camera patent could be used for Wii-like control of games

Japanese website Tech-On is reporting that a new patent filed by Sony Computer Entertainment could potentially be used for a Wii-like control interface on the PlayStation 3.

A typically confusing diagram attached to the patent seems to suggest that the device allows a game system to view a pen-like controller on a 2-dimensional camera image, and map its position in 3D space. Essentially, this means the camera could be used for Wii-like motion-sensing gameplay.

Although similarly-functional technologies have been patented before, this is the first devised that doesn't require multiple cameras to operate. The Tech-On report notes that Sony's patent leverages Sony's PS3 Cell processor, which is apparently "optimized for image recognition."


So with the help of a souped-up EyeToy camera, Sony's motion-sensing technology could be nudging ever-closer into Wii's territory. Should Nintendo be worried? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

 

[Brainiac 8]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em - I guess that's Sony's new motto.

 

[Horrorfan]

No, Nintendo patented the ''sony controller''


I think sony's new motto is ''hey, lets rip the ass out of the idiot consumers who will actually buy ps3, and the competition too while we are at it.''. That's just an unofficial guess though.

 

[Brainiac 8]

No, Nintendo patented the ''sony controller''


I think sony's new motto is ''hey, lets rip the ass out of the idiot consumers who will actually buy ps3, and the competition too while we are at it.''. That's just an unofficial guess though.

lol, that's true.

How often in new information now do we hear Sony now has such-and-such like "Nintendo" or "Microsoft". Heck they even have X-Box features on their controller as well as Wii's motion sensing ability, just not as good.

I wonder when we'll hear them say, "Hey, Sony just patented something original!"

 

[Horrorfan]

lol, that's true.

How often in new information now do we hear Sony now has such-and-such like "Nintendo" or "Microsoft". Heck they even have X-Box features on their controller as well as Wii's motion sensing ability, just not as good.

I wonder when we'll hear them say, "Hey, Sony just patented something original!"

I imagine the same day satan moves to barbados and says ''Holy Crap it's never snowed in hell before''

 

[Kipobe]

Ugh.

Sony is getting ******ed. I'm really hoping for a good experience with the PS3, but it's looking less and less likely that I'll even buy one. I guess it'll be a 360 and a Wii like Microsoft said. Sorry Sony. You still have Spider-Man.

 

[Mr. Credible]

how do people consider this "copying"?

this isn't exactly a technology you can just pull out of your ass overnight. they've probably been working on it for a while. and besides, even if it does more or less the same thing as the wii-mote, it sounds like it does it in a completely different way, and the possibilities are (arguably) alot more abundant.

 

[Kipobe]

Sony hasn't exactly proven themselves to be the most original company in their hardware. Their gaming software is pretty good, but their hardware is most often a case of tailing the other guy by three feet and pouncing when the market's open.

I still like them (as a whole) better than Microsoft, and I'm hoping good things for their PS3, but I'm hearing less and less good news.

 

[Mr. Credible]

the only thing i can really see that they flat out copied was the 'home' button, and that was more or less a natural evolution from the "L1+L2+R1+R2+select+start= reset" thing. Sony had a tilt-sensitive controller for the PS1, so, hardly a stolen idea from nintendo. maybe nintendo 'inspired' them to bring it back, but still.

and a single camera that can sense an object's position in 3D space? that's freaking awesome, are you kidding me! i mean, you could like, do your own motion capture with something like that. there are alot of possibilities with ths kind of technology.

 

[Horrorfan]

the only thing i can really see that they flat out copied was the 'home' button, and that was more or less a natural evolution from the "L1+L2+R1+R2+select+start= reset" thing. Sony had a tilt-sensitive controller for the PS1, so, hardly a stolen idea from nintendo. maybe nintendo 'inspired' them to bring it back, but still.

and a single camera that can sense an object's position in 3D space? that's freaking awesome, are you kidding me! i mean, you could like, do your own motion capture with something like that. there are alot of possibilities with ths kind of technology.

Sounds like the 360 live camera and wii controller rolled into one.

Well done on supporting corporate thievery.

 

[Addendum]

It'll have ****ty games just like the Eyetoy. No big deal.