The Verge has an article up with a promotional video of a new technology that could possibly be included in the new Xbox, called IlumiRoom. It's a combination of virtual and physical worlds of a tv and living room for an augmented reality experience.
The demonstration starts with an actor commanding the Xbox to "go big," with a projection showing an Xbox console scanning the room before images are projected onto nearby walls. Microsoft didn't explain why it chose to demo IllumiRoom with Samsung, but the companies have previously worked together on PixelSense tables and the components for Microsoft's Surface tablet. Samsung manufactures a number of Pico projectors and has recently added the technology to its Galaxy Beam smartphone suggesting it's in a position to offer the tech at a low-cost for the consumer market.[...]
A new Xbox has long been rumored for 2013, but sources familiar with Microsoft's Xbox plans have suggested toThe Vergethat the company may be preparing an early unveil of some future Xbox plans ahead of a main event at E3.The timing of IllumiRoom would suggest this is part of a larger plan for the future of Xbox.Previously leakeddetails onKinect 2have suggested it will introduce a "LiveWall" that uses a projection unit to "allow game environments to be projected nearly 360 degrees around the user." This information lines up with the IllumiRoom project.The Verge
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My take? I'm not really impressed by the idea. You already need a large amount of space to get Kinect functioning properly and this seems like the same kind of idea. Also, you must need a projector or some device to relay that display into your living room.
If this is part of Microsoft's competitive differentiator for the next cycle of consoles, it's not very interesting.
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