Speaking to a room full of executives focused on "the business of online video" at this year's Streaming Media West trade show, it's easy to understand how Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten could fall into hyperbole regarding the implications of Project Natal. "I believe that this will be the largest leap of TV experience since the remote control," Whitten said on the subject, reports Yahoo Tech. "With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel ... with the power of my voice I can start a movie."
Aside from the more obvious implications to television using technology that can interpret voice and motion, he sees a future where Natal will recognize individual voices in a room and allow for a variety of human input – from "laughter" to "the number of people in a room" and everything in between. "Watching a movie is a passive input, but a TV should understand what you're trying to do." We don't know about you, Marc, but we're a bit worried about the implications of our television understanding what some of us are trying to do.
[Via Edge]
Reader Comments (103)
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 12:17AM (Unverified) said
i see natal replacing tv remotes as a cool but very inconvenient, because of annoying siblings.
Reply
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 1:02AM Shagittarius said
My TV remote is specially designed for this purpose and I already have to contort my body so the receiver picks it up. I hardly see Natal bringing anything new to that experience.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:04AM PN04 said
They japanese already have gesture based remote technology.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZJXzgb98XI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKx_oB-AEFM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt60r3AwuV8
They're just saying this crap to look like it's all natal's doing and take credit when it had nothing to do with them.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZJXzgb98XI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKx_oB-AEFM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt60r3AwuV8
They're just saying this crap to look like it's all natal's doing and take credit when it had nothing to do with them.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 3:50AM needmoregigs said
@Ignatius
My sentiments exactly. Voice and gesture command recognition need to be near perfect in order to be successfully implemented.
With gestures, the tracking algorithm must be able to must be astute enough to track the most minute movements, and be able to differentiate between intended and unintended movements.
With voice, the recognition software must not be limited proper syntax of the spoken commands or can accommodate the intricacies of the human language.
The tech in me says that the technology in general is promising, but the skeptic in me says that says we are still far away. I, especially, don't think that natal will be the device that delivers what I envision.
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My sentiments exactly. Voice and gesture command recognition need to be near perfect in order to be successfully implemented.
With gestures, the tracking algorithm must be able to must be astute enough to track the most minute movements, and be able to differentiate between intended and unintended movements.
With voice, the recognition software must not be limited proper syntax of the spoken commands or can accommodate the intricacies of the human language.
The tech in me says that the technology in general is promising, but the skeptic in me says that says we are still far away. I, especially, don't think that natal will be the device that delivers what I envision.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:39PM Mr Khan said
This is definitely the direction Microsoft is trying to go with this. They're not necessarily trying to create a new game controller, they're trying to create something to control the whole living room, which is really what their original goal with the Xbox was (and perhaps still is)
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:45PM Aurailious said
This is exactly what I believe Natal is going to be. Much, much more than a new gimmicky control to match the Wii, but rather a new way to deal with things.
I have heard that Natal will be coming to PCs as well. This really is going to be much better than most people realize and are giving credit. They are making assumptions of things they haven't much seen of.
Give it a chance and stop hating it.
Reply
I have heard that Natal will be coming to PCs as well. This really is going to be much better than most people realize and are giving credit. They are making assumptions of things they haven't much seen of.
Give it a chance and stop hating it.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:49PM Gandalf the Grey said
Well, it's actually the PS3 that does everything.
*Puts on raincoat and braces for downvote storm.
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*Puts on raincoat and braces for downvote storm.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:55PM Special Agent Steve said
I hope Natal works. That's all I'm gonna say.
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:59PM (Unverified) said
The technophile side of me hopes it works out, but the skeptical, cynical side says it can't.
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:26PM MystileArmor said
The skeptical side of me says this will be as big of a success as "the clapper".
You drop a jar of peanuts on the floor and the light goes out....
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You drop a jar of peanuts on the floor and the light goes out....
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 12:58AM The Punisher said
I totally believe the technology is going to work. Or that it will work well enough for people to tolerate any short comings it has.
Twisty avatar is so ridiculously said. If you want to know what it is REALLY like, you need only look at both of the reviews that both Engadget and Gizmodo wrote about. They were IMPRESSED.
Ignore the nay-sayers that have NEVER USED the tech.
Reply
Twisty avatar is so ridiculously said. If you want to know what it is REALLY like, you need only look at both of the reviews that both Engadget and Gizmodo wrote about. They were IMPRESSED.
Ignore the nay-sayers that have NEVER USED the tech.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 2:08AM Aurailious said
How did I get down voted for that? Makes me a sad panda.
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:01PM sonicspike41 said
Nah, that's when it says "Error, the command could not be recognized. System will restart in 15 seconds. Shout 'Enter' to restart now."
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:43PM (Unverified) said
""With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel"
Or better yet, with the move of a finger I can change a channel... Why is this necessary?
Reply
Or better yet, with the move of a finger I can change a channel... Why is this necessary?
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:17PM (Unverified) said
Took the words right out of my mouth. That's the problem I have with motion controls, they're just gimmicks to do the same thing we've always done.
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:51PM SoCoolCurt said
yea i feel the same way. it's like how i feel about my Wii. sure it was really fun for the first couple weeks but eventually i regressed back to using it like i use any other consoles. i just can't imagine a scenario where i would want to wave and swipe at my tv instead of just pushing a button since there is absolutely nothing wrong with THAT input method.
i guess i'm trying to say, laziness will always prevail. these companies are trying to fix what isn't broken.
Reply
i guess i'm trying to say, laziness will always prevail. these companies are trying to fix what isn't broken.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 11:38AM arkweld said
and this is the problem. Same thing with the air mouse.
People do not want to wave and move their hands around just to change the channel, when you can just hold your hand in one position and adjust everything with a simple finger movement on a remote.
If they want to develop a new control scheme for changing channels then start working on a consumer version of a thought control node you can stick on the side of your head. As long as it doesn't require you to speak Russian, that would be something that would make it less effort to operate a TV. Not more effort as all this hand waving stupidity requires.
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People do not want to wave and move their hands around just to change the channel, when you can just hold your hand in one position and adjust everything with a simple finger movement on a remote.
If they want to develop a new control scheme for changing channels then start working on a consumer version of a thought control node you can stick on the side of your head. As long as it doesn't require you to speak Russian, that would be something that would make it less effort to operate a TV. Not more effort as all this hand waving stupidity requires.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:43PM Dance Mofo said
Perhaps when I clap my hands (2x), the lights will turn off.
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:46PM Gandalf the Grey said
Big Brother is watching you. Doubleplusgood.
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Posted: Nov 29th 2009 12:02AM chromekreeper said
im pretty sure i dont want my tv to know that i want to destroy it when i get angry, it might try and dodge the controller
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:44PM MrSpaceCowboy said
Doesn't it take more effort to wave your hand to change channel than it does to press a freaking button?
I thought technology was supposed to make our lives easier! But this seems almost like getting up to change the channel to me.
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I thought technology was supposed to make our lives easier! But this seems almost like getting up to change the channel to me.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:03PM Manifest37 said
^THIS.
Maybe I should cancel my cellphone & get a telegraph.
Reply
Maybe I should cancel my cellphone & get a telegraph.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:09PM jagowar said
To be fair its not quite that simple.... you have to actually find & pickup the remote before you can even press the button. And then it assumes the remote isn't out of battery, etc. If natal were to take over (assuming it works) it could actually enhance the way we interact with everything.
There is a reason universal remotes like the harmony do well.... because most remotes are horrible.
Reply
There is a reason universal remotes like the harmony do well.... because most remotes are horrible.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:18PM Manifest37 said
Solved...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/battery-less-remote-gets-power-from-button-presses-aims-for-pro/
Now all you have to do is leave your remote on the coffee table (or whatever).
Reply
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/battery-less-remote-gets-power-from-button-presses-aims-for-pro/
Now all you have to do is leave your remote on the coffee table (or whatever).
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 1:56AM (Unverified) said
@aaron
To be fair, you can say that about anything by breaking every single step involved in doing something. With Natal, you first have to be situated in front of the receiver, remember the specific gesture for what you want to happen, muster the energy to move after your second bag of potato chips, sit up, and hope to god you perform the gesture perfectly and don't accidentally flip to the Lifetime channel and end up killing yourself after losing hope for humanity.
All you have to do with a remote is press a button. ;)
Reply
To be fair, you can say that about anything by breaking every single step involved in doing something. With Natal, you first have to be situated in front of the receiver, remember the specific gesture for what you want to happen, muster the energy to move after your second bag of potato chips, sit up, and hope to god you perform the gesture perfectly and don't accidentally flip to the Lifetime channel and end up killing yourself after losing hope for humanity.
All you have to do with a remote is press a button. ;)
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:45PM Gandalf the Grey said
Am I the only one who likes using a controller or remote?
Reply
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:48PM (Unverified) said
Nope. I prefer the least amount of effort possible.
Saves more energy in case someone tries to kill me.
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Saves more energy in case someone tries to kill me.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:05PM sonicspike41 said
Agreed.
Would I rather be flicking my wrist or simply pressing a button during the news report that the zombie parasite/plague has begun infecting the town?
That reminds me, I need to make me some 'ficial instructions in case zombies ever attack.
*Makes a note to kill all sons of bitches*
Done.
Reply
Would I rather be flicking my wrist or simply pressing a button during the news report that the zombie parasite/plague has begun infecting the town?
That reminds me, I need to make me some 'ficial instructions in case zombies ever attack.
*Makes a note to kill all sons of bitches*
Done.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:08PM (Unverified) said
Hell yeah I'm with you on that.
I don't want to get a glass of water, eat a biscuit or stroke my dog only to find that I've entered the settings menu or changed the channel.
Occam's Razor is perfectly applicable in this situation. Buttons are the simplest solution, thus they are the best.
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I don't want to get a glass of water, eat a biscuit or stroke my dog only to find that I've entered the settings menu or changed the channel.
Occam's Razor is perfectly applicable in this situation. Buttons are the simplest solution, thus they are the best.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:20PM sonicspike41 said
"stroke my dog"
Is that what you kids are calling it these days?
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Is that what you kids are calling it these days?
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:26PM Special Agent Steve said
@sonic spike
Yeah, "stroking the dog" is just another term for "Helping my parents" or "assisting my decrepit neighbor" or even "petting my cat".
And other times, it refers to masturbation.
Uh, I think my neighbor needs some assistance. Be back in few.
Reply
Yeah, "stroking the dog" is just another term for "Helping my parents" or "assisting my decrepit neighbor" or even "petting my cat".
And other times, it refers to masturbation.
Uh, I think my neighbor needs some assistance. Be back in few.
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 11:42PM (Unverified) said
@sonicspike41 & @Special Agent Steve.
HAHA! As soon as I posted that I thought "Sigh. Somebody's going to make a masturbation joke aren't they".
While I was actually referring to petting my canine friend, the actual dog I own, I suppose masturbating in front of the TV would pose yet more problems for Natal.
Didn't think about all the horny teenagers did ya Microsoft? You just lost the appeal to your key demographic. *smh*.
Reply
HAHA! As soon as I posted that I thought "Sigh. Somebody's going to make a masturbation joke aren't they".
While I was actually referring to petting my canine friend, the actual dog I own, I suppose masturbating in front of the TV would pose yet more problems for Natal.
Didn't think about all the horny teenagers did ya Microsoft? You just lost the appeal to your key demographic. *smh*.
Posted: Nov 29th 2009 1:05AM Shagittarius said
I'm well aware of my fecal instructions when a zombie attack occurs.
//redrocket
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//redrocket
Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:45PM (Unverified) said
So on those lonely Friday nights I spend watching playboy, I'll cycle through a thousand channels when I am "having fun with myself"?
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Posted: Nov 28th 2009 10:56PM (Unverified) said
What if that is the 'command' to access the 'restricted channels'? Wouldn't that work?
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