This probably won't come as a surprise, but according to uber-geek/richest man on earth Bill Gates, Microsoft would like to take the Natal control system for the 360 and apply it to Windows PCs as well.
In an interview with Cnet, Gates said Natal was not just for games, "but for media consumption as a whole, and even if they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication... both the Xbox guys and the Windows guys latched onto that and now even since they latched onto it the idea of how it can be used in the office is getting much more concrete, and is pretty exciting."
No word on when we'll be able to wave our hands around to control our PC, though, sorry.
Judging from Gates' comments, Microsoft is very behind the utility of Natal, but I'm not so sure. It's very hard to tell the difference between the everything-is-possible ideal of a soon-to-exist piece of technology and the on-the-ground usefulness of it. Natal will likley be a very awesome addition to some kinds of games, but I think in the case of controlling a PC, the difference between gimmick and innovation depends on how sensitive the thing is to small movements. I could see using a camera for, say, flipping through albums to find a song I wanted to hear, but only if it's fingertip controlled -- and if the thing messed up more than twice, I wouldn't use it again, ever.
It sort of reminds me of voice control of computers. For a years, being able to say, "computer, open file!" was the dream of futurists and sci-fi writers the world over, but now that we can actually do it, no one does, because a mouse click is simpler and doesn't make you sound stupid.
What do you think of Natal? Am I being totally blind to the possibilities of Natal controlled PCs here? Let me know in the comment section!
Comments
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babyscottback
A couple days after Natal was announced I was watching Iron Man again, and while Tony is talking to Jarvis (home computer) all I could think of was that after a couple years, technology like Natal could be used for the same idea. The voice recognition and motion control together, and apparently actually working, could do wonders for home entertainment and management.
blasphemous ShowHide(2 Replies)
this reeks of desperation, i bet the conversation went a little something like this.
Head of MS Games Division: "Games for Windows is on life support. Do we pull the plug?"
Peter Moly: "I can save this, let me get my boy toy."
Juicelee
@babyscottback
very true, but I think the first movie I ever seen something like natal in was minority report...
SlfDstruct
People seem to get hung up on the motion control aspect of Natal and forget about face/voice recognition, combine those three aspects and you have an interface with tremendous possibilities as long as it works well and is cost effective.
cyjoker187
@ blasphemous Peter can save anything. Hes got the magic touch. Kinda like Bioware.
And Natal if they do it right. Will be amazing.
l33t360
@babyscottback
exactly. i'm probably more excited at being able to navigate through menus with my hands in thin-air, more than anything. the games obviously will matter alot too, but i think there's a much bigger picture than just gaming.
cmdluke
@cyjoker187
amazing if you like the wii.
babyscottback
@Juicelee
Thats very true. I guess I was thinking about the voice stuff more, but they definitely use their hands with the computers in Minority Report, haha.
N8R
Let me get this straight:
The world's richest man wants to put cameras that recognize faces and track movement in all of your homes... and and some of you are okay with this?
cmdluke
@N8R
skynet anyone?
jro59
I'm glad it will be coming to windows, because then any awesome Natal games for the 360 will surely make it to PC. I really don't see how Natal will be any better than a camera for Windows meetings, communications, collaboration, etc. Windows will really have to beef up their software to handle/make it worthwhile for Natal. It could be cool to have an interactive PowerPoint for everyone using Natal in a web conference.
Tjoeb123
I honestly wouldn't expect any Natal on PC until Windows 7 SP1, or even Windows 8.
koolboricua
well im not so intrested on Natal but ill like to see how it turns out, yesterday on the History channel they had a show based on Military Terminators, now being use and soon to be use, thats some creepy stuff, now add Natal to all this, SKYNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but is will be call MILO instead of SKYNET
Blue_Vortex
If they're going to do that, they should have laptops and desktops have natal built right in them, so you'll have an advance 3D web cam in your computer
or better yet build a laptop/desktop where you can fit natal on the monitor (there's an area on the monitor where it could clip into and out).
newbman
I want Natal on the computer used for MOcap.
brsterkens
good point n8r. then the next bush like prez. infringe on your right and catalog wire tap every person that has one or uses one a work and spy on every one for there own gain.
down311
How about Natal-ia, the XXX addition ?
RRODisBack
RRODisBack's comment is abusive and has been removed.
EntropyMu
I think we should wait to get excited about Natal until they show us it can handle movements more with more precision than a full arm swing or kick.
As for non-gaming, how would this be different than teleconferencing equipment already available (or for that matter, how much better than the webcam and mic already standard in most cheap laptops)?
qec
I agree, If the thing screwed up on me once I would stop using it forever. I smoke cigarettes and if I were doing something and the menus kept going all funky cause i was taking drags off my smoke, I'd be super mad.
I do like the example of Tony Stark's PC though, it also reminds me of James Bond's in Quantum of Solace, or even the computers in Minority Report, I think. That is hopefully where the tech is headed.
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