Soon, ‘hands-free’ video games

LONDON - The ultimate computer game that banishes handheld controls and allows players’ gestures to dictate the action on screen is to be launched by Microsoft.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 uses 3-D camera technology, and is aimed at challenging the dominance of the Nintendo Wii, reports The Times.

Allowing users to kick a virtual football, drive a car or practise dance moves with a computer-generated partner simply by monitoring an individual’s movements, the entertainment system will become a must-have for any child or even a youngster.

The Microsoft camera, which is the first to be able to sense 3-D motion, is based on technology developed by 3DV Systems, an Israeli company recently acquired by Microsoft. It uses infrared light to detect real-life gestures and the players’ distance from the camera. This information is then converted into a related movement on screen.

A source close to the Microsoft project said: “By taking away the controls altogether the game becomes so easy to operate that even your grandmother can master it.”

The company refused to comment. (ANI)