Xbox 360 Won’t Touch TV?
By Calvin Hsieh – Research Director, DisplaySearch
At the E3 Expo this week, Microsoft unveiled their Natal Project, an add-on kit for the Xbox 360 that includes a camera on the TV set top to capture user gestures or action. This makes us think of the Nintendo Wii controller, which uses a CMOS image sensor from PixArt Imaging for action capturing. The difference is Xbox does not need any controller; your body is the controller. To make this amazing feature possible, more powerful image calculating and comparison is critical.
Beyond taking pictures, CMOS (and CCD) cameras now have greater capabilities in detection. We have seen NextWindow’s solution used in the HP TouchSmart all-in-one PC, which uses infrared interruption to detect and calculate touching action and position. Optical imaging is more flexible for larger displays than conventional resistive or capacitive touch technologies.
For mobile phones, mini-notes, notebook PCs and desktop monitors, the distance between user and the display is very short; they can use a finger, stylus pen, mouse point, keyboard or other input device to interact with the system. This scenario does not work with TV, as users watch TV from a longer distance. In addition, intensive interaction may be needed in gaming, but not while watching broadcasting.
Owing to the context and scenario, we probably won’t see any touch solution applied on the TV display unless this TV is used for other purposes such as education, training or public display. However, we still can expect there will be some changes in interaction with TVs. Bluetooth or Zigbee could replace the remote control infrared which has directional limitations. Or, it’s reasonable to embed a small-sized panel with menu-driven interface like an iPod to reduce the number of buttons and controls. And of course image sensors like those used in Natal Project will be applied instead of touch, too, offering more natural interaction and, perhaps, users won’t be such coach potatoes any more.
Figure: Natal Project
Source: Microsoft
Here we go, Microsoft muscleing in on Nintendo’s niche. Microsoft won;t be happy until there is no competition left!
Will be interesting to see how they get the camera to fit all the different types of TV. Some of the new LED TV’s are so thin, that there’s no chance a camera could be mounted on one.
i think mounting camera is not a probelm after all we have seen camera on the monitor’s top. besides gaming, this controlling way also inspire us the future of a remote controller. for children and young people, they have got familiar with interacting with “TV” (game console, DVD player), there will be easy for them to click buttons or sreen on a new controlling device to get what they want thru TV.