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Microsoft Buys Motion-Detection Technology

Posted by Soulskill on from the fewer-broken-televisions-this-way dept.

DaMan1970 writes with news that Microsoft has purchased 3DV Systems, a company that specializes in motion detection technology. When early reports of this deal appeared last week, it led to speculation that this could be part of Microsoft's plans for future gaming technology. 3DV itself has been focused on the gaming market. "Now that graphics have become so advanced, it explains, the key to making a real difference lies in how you can control the game. The ZCam lets players control the game using body gestures alone, rather as PlayStation's EyeToy does, or Microsoft's Vision or Nintendo's Wii. 3DV Systems argues that its system is better than these, adding that you don't have to wear anything."

11 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Who cares? by rnaiguy · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't wear anything when I play with my Wii as it is.

  2. Multi-purpose by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    It will also be useful for detecting incoming projectiles, i.e. chairs thrown by Steve Ballmer.

  3. Huh.. by michael021689 · · Score: 2, Funny

    That explains why they need to have their laid off workers pay their severance back!

  4. Re:Quick link... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Parent is a Troll posting a link to a shock site. Just FYI.

  5. Microsoft buys technology rather than develops it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do you notice that Microsoft buys new technology rather than developing it?

  6. Windows 7 Activation by BrunoBigfoot · · Score: 4, Funny

    will now involve successful completion of the Hokey-Pokey, the Macarena, and the Lambada.

    1. Re:Windows 7 Activation by TENTH+SHOW+JAM · · Score: 2, Funny

      My keyboard is now covered in coffee.

      That would never have happened if I had this tech in place. I would have spat all over the floor/screen/ZCam.

      --
      A sig is placed here
      To display how futile
      English Haiku is
  7. Great by SalsaDot · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now Clippy can pop up when it detects fapping.

    1. Re:Great by SanityInAnarchy · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Do you need help with that?"

      --
      Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
  8. Too much effort by alienunknown · · Score: 4, Funny
    The Atari VCS had it right. Only one button requiring minimal effort. Then came the NES with its 2 button "joy pad". That wasn't so bad until the SNES with its 4 button controller came out and the Sega with its 6 button Mega Drive/Genesis II controller. I think my head will explode if I start talking about the amount of buttons included on the Atari Jaguar controller!

    Here I am, all excited about the Wii with the prospect of having a game console with only 3 main buttons to push! Shaped just like a TV remote and requiring the same amount of effort. And what does Nintendo do? They make it so you have to wave the bloody thing around which requires even more effort then using the Atari Jaguar and its over 15 buttons controller!!!!

    I think I'm going to take an asprin and lay down for a while. Call me when mind-controlled games are available on a console.

  9. Best used by... by westlake · · Score: 2, Insightful
    And for tracking Vista sales

    It's rather a pity Slashdot's jokes and memes do not come with an expiration date.

    It would make for clearer thinking:

    Oh, the humanity: Windows 7's draconian DRM?

    You know you've reached rock bottom when every Microsoft-bashing story from kdawson is met with gales of laughter across the Internet.

    Vista is close to taking 25% of the client OS market: Top Operating System Share Trend

    Linux has yet to scratch its way into the single digit.

    OEM Vista is the 64 Bit OS that runs on the dual or quad core PC with four to eight gigabytes of RAM that you can buy at any WalMart.

    The same WalMart which unloaded its Linux inventory in favor of XP on the netbook.