As far as rumors regarding the upcoming gaming consoles from Microsoft and Sony are concerned, both the companies are moving head-to-head with new leaked information surfacing on the Internet almost every day. Per reports, the latest from the Xbox 720 front reveals that the futuristic gaming console from Microsoft could arrive with a new "wrist-worn 3D hand tracker for gestural interactions on the move."
Previously, the console, via leaked documents, had already been rumored to arrive equipped with the next big thing in motion-sensing technology, alongside some virtual reality elements that would set up a whole new standard for console gaming in the future. The new improvements could also come as new technology, which are aimed at giving tough competition to the rumored device's equally rumored rival - PlayStation 4 from Sony.
The new device, which is said to be made out of using only off-the-shelf hardware, features a wrist-worn infrared (IR) camera, an IR laser line generator, additional diffuse IR illumination, and an inertial measurement unit.
When put together, these components allow users to flawlessly and instinctively interact with objects without even physically touching them. The new video (see below) shows how the technology allows the user to perform actions without having to wear a glove. Moreover, the user could also zoom accordingly using an in-air pinch gesture, apart from other gestures that will allow the user to move around one or several virtual objects.
However, probably the most impressive feature, which Microsoft showed in the video, came at the end. Titled "Continuous 3D Interaction," the user stood in front of a television screen, pointed their hand like a gun, and fired at the screen. The interactions were actually quite smooth and happened in real-time.
What's more, to move around the environment, the user performed a few grabbing motions and waved their arm. This aspect was a bit unusual and would never work in modern-day shooters, such as Activision's "Call of Duty" or "Battlefield" from Electronic Arts.
However, this viewing was just a short demo of the technology and, per reports, it seems as if digits could be adapted to work with a more conventional controller, or if the games were tweaked to provide an entirely revamped way to move around.
Check out the video below.
