Hardware

This could be interesting. Prime Sense, an Israeli company, have come up with a device that “allows a computer to perceive the world in 3D and derive an understanding of the world based on sight, just the way humans do”.

The device includes a sensor, which sees a user (including their complete surroundings), and a digital component, or “brain” which learns and understands user movement within those surroundings.

Prime Sense’s interactive device can see, track and react to user movements outside the computer, all without change of environment or wearable equipment for the end user. The closed device is plug and play and platform independent.

As some observers have pointed out, this sounds much like the Wii controller, but with the added ability of being able to, for instance, hide behind objects, or serve a tennis ball by using a traditional, thrown over your shoulder, serve.

I’d be intrigued to see this in action. The user doesn’t have to wear any kind of device - all the motion is detected by the sensor. I’d also be interested to see how it copes with secondary movement, i.e. what happens if you scratch your nose during a simulated game?

I’m trying hard not to think that this looks a lot like the virtuality reality simulation from Red Dwarf!

Break through into immersive Virtual Reality with VirtuSphere™ - the unique simulation platform that allows lifelike movements in cyberspace.

6 degrees of freedom – move in any direction. Walk, crawl, run over virtually unlimited distances.

VirtuSphere can be compatible with all computer based simulations. It is versatile. Need to change the purpose of use? Just reload the software.

With the creation of the VirtuSphere™, Virtual Reality technology has developed sufficiently to permit users to leave behind the keyboard or mouse and immerse in this exciting new medium. The VirtuSphere is currently the only technology in the world, which permits the user to move about in virtual space through the most natural movement of all – by walking.

The device consists of a large hollow sphere, which is placed on a special platform that allows the sphere to rotate in any direction as the user walks within the sphere.

The user enters the sphere with a head mounted display, which permits virtual vision in any direction. As the user moves, the sensors under the sphere transmit information about the users speed and direction to the computer. The user looks at the head mounted display and sees a virtual three dimensional space which is generated by the computer in response to his-or-her movements. The user can interact with objects in virtual space with the help of a special manipulator.

You can find out more over on the VirtuSphere web site, where you can also find a load if promotional videos of the unit in action.

VSTEP and Philips are to demonstrate Ship Simulator 2008 with amBX at the Amsterdam Boat Show which runs from the 4th to the 9th of March.

Shorthand for “ambient experiences”, amBX reinvents the gameplay experience by extending the traditional gaming world out of the screen and into the real world. amBX delivers full „surround senses‟ by allowing developers to use light, colour, sound, rumble and even air flow through enabled devices, including the Philips amBX PC Gaming Peripherals range of LED colour-controlled lighting, rumble peripherals and variable speed desktop fans.

So, you’ll be able to feel the wind in your face when sailing the seas! This actually sounds like it could be good fun. I would imagine the setup would work pretty well with racing games, too. You can read the full press release here.