Microsoft looking to acquire motion-sensing company PDF Print E-mail
Written by Phil Meza   
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
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According to VentureBeat (via Israeli site, Haaretz,) Microsoft are currently in talks to acquire motion-sensing technology company 3DV Systems. This is the part where you should cue the rumors about the 360's Waggle Wand from last year , again. Being a local startup, and should the deal go through, Microsoft will shell out a paltry $35 million for the company which develops 'next generation virtual imaging technology' for digital cameras (not unlike the LIVE Vision camera).

The Israeli company currently sells this technology, called "ZCams", and even plugs a Wii-like phrase to describe it: "enjoy a genuinely immersive experience." The ZCam works much like Sony's EyeToy, where it senses players' movements - without the need for handheld controllers - and then produces the correct response onscreen. Again, much like what Microsoft tried to do, but failed horribly at, with the Vision camera. Gesture-based gaming. While it sounds nigh identicle to both EyeToy and the Vision cam, 3DV claim that their technology is far superior and much more accurate, since they are based on three dimensions of depth.

"Microsoft apparently plans to use 3DV Systems' technology in its own gaming technology, probably in the Xbox 360."

Speculation is that rather than incorporating this into a 360 motion wand or into the Xbox 720/Xbox 1080 (which could still happen. hey, maybe it will be what controls the next dashboard), Microsoft will instead use the ZCam technology to improve upon their LIVE Vision camera, and its accompanying gesture genre for the current generation.






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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 17 February 2009 )
 
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