Microsoft Natal Based On 'Low Cost, Plug and Play, Usb-Powered Device'
From a company called Primesense
Microsoft has confirmed that its Natal full body motion controller, Natal, uses technology provided by a company called PrimeSense.
“The Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the ‘Project Natal’ sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design to support the special requirements of ‘Project Natal,’” said Aviad Maizels, president and founder, PrimeSense.
So, for some more insight into the Natal... this is what PrimeSense says about its product:
"The PrimeSensor Reference Design is a low-cost, plug and play, USB-powered device that can either sit on top of or next to a television screen or a monitor, or be integrated into them. The Reference Design generates realtime depth, color and audio data of the living room scene. It works in all room lighting conditions (whether in complete darkness or in a fully lit room). It does not require the user to wear or hold anything, does not require calibration and does not require computational resources from the host’s processor.
"The PrimeSensor design includes an advanced visual data processing middleware optimized for mass-market CE products called NITE. NITE provides the algorithmic framework for the development of rich natural interaction applications. The NITE SDK is built to match GUI design and development on one hand, and games development on the other, by providing a fully documented API and framework."
Ian Spillinger, Vice President of Xbox 360 hardware says, “PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room."
See more at Primesense.
“The Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the ‘Project Natal’ sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design to support the special requirements of ‘Project Natal,’” said Aviad Maizels, president and founder, PrimeSense.
So, for some more insight into the Natal... this is what PrimeSense says about its product:
"The PrimeSensor Reference Design is a low-cost, plug and play, USB-powered device that can either sit on top of or next to a television screen or a monitor, or be integrated into them. The Reference Design generates realtime depth, color and audio data of the living room scene. It works in all room lighting conditions (whether in complete darkness or in a fully lit room). It does not require the user to wear or hold anything, does not require calibration and does not require computational resources from the host’s processor.
"The PrimeSensor design includes an advanced visual data processing middleware optimized for mass-market CE products called NITE. NITE provides the algorithmic framework for the development of rich natural interaction applications. The NITE SDK is built to match GUI design and development on one hand, and games development on the other, by providing a fully documented API and framework."
Ian Spillinger, Vice President of Xbox 360 hardware says, “PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room."
See more at Primesense.
Companies:
Microsoft
Read More Like This
Comments
SpoonMaster 31 Mar 2010 17:14
1/7
Could this thing be plugged into any USB port? Like... the ones... on a... PS3?
Would be very funny if some bright spark got it working...
Would be very funny if some bright spark got it working...
tyrion 31 Mar 2010 17:16
2/7
@SpoonMaster I often thought that about the 360's HD-DVD drive.
more comments below our sponsor's message
uhhh its a reference design 31 Mar 2010 17:19
3/7
you can't just plug it in and someone make it work on the ps3, its a reference design, microsoft built it up from there.
anonymous 31 Mar 2010 17:33
4/7
The HD-DVD drive for the 360 works on PC's but I'm pretty sure there are no drivers for the PS3. It probably works under the other-os option that sony is taking away though.
SPInGSPOnG 1 Apr 2010 06:32
5/7
uhhh its a reference design wrote:
you can't just plug it in and someone make it work on the ps3, its a reference design, microsoft built it up from there.
Sorry how does it being a "reference design" prevent it working on another device. A reference design is specifically made to be developed to work with other devices.
It plugs into a standard port, it sends (and receives) data via that port. WIth the correct drivers it could be made to work with the PS3, Wii, my toaster (interface box required) or pretty much anything.
SPOnG wrote:
“The Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the ‘Project Natal’ sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design"
If Microsoft "built it up" it can no longer be a "reference design" can it. A "reference design" is what you build up from!
I'm not saying you are an idiot. You already made that abundantly clear.
irritant 1 Apr 2010 08:03
6/7
"... does not require computational resources from the host’s processor."
My arse, it doesn't! Something's gotta then process all that data - interpret movements into control inputs etc.
Natal is going to be little more than a gimmicky EyeToy or Wii Remote. Fun for a few certain games but will show it's shortcomings very very quickly. Serious gamers will always use keyboard and mouse, almost serious gamers will always use joypads, mums and grannies will use Wii Remote/Natal. Lord alone knows who will use the Sony Move thing.
My arse, it doesn't! Something's gotta then process all that data - interpret movements into control inputs etc.
Natal is going to be little more than a gimmicky EyeToy or Wii Remote. Fun for a few certain games but will show it's shortcomings very very quickly. Serious gamers will always use keyboard and mouse, almost serious gamers will always use joypads, mums and grannies will use Wii Remote/Natal. Lord alone knows who will use the Sony Move thing.
Jason Green 8 Apr 2010 06:21
7/7
I think this thing will have a lot of potential, but microsoft needs to add another peripheral to the mix. Possibly a modular compact controller which can slot into a range of accessories, like a gun or sword. That way, Natal can process the size and position of the gun/sword (for example) using its camera, while "trigger" events would be a button press on the controller. They could achieve this by requiring the user to hold the controller in the other hand, but it wouldn't really suit the purpose. As I see it, Natal is everything the PS3 option makes available, except you can replace the weird ball controller thing with anything, like a stick from your back yard and achieve the same result, possibly using finger movements for button presses. Since all the object / scene detection and processing is done in the Natal device, there is virtually no more processing than the gesture recognition which would be a requirement of even the PS3 option. What an amazing sales tool could be designed with this system, where a clothing retailer could have their catalogue on live, using Natal to recognise the user's body shape and heigh to show them a virtual mirror on their screen. They could "try on" anything in the store and move around, checking out how they would look in the clothing. Although not a gaming use, there are many more amazgin possibilities with this tech. I just hope that a bit of imagination and money goes Natal's way to really demonstrate the full potential of this device.