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Microsoft: Natal represents a giant leap for TV

Natal has the potential to replace remote controls, says Live boss
Marc Whitten, general manager of Xbox Live, expects Project Natal to "be the largest leap of TV experience since the remote control".

"I don't believe we are currently in the golden age of the television or the golden age of the game console or the golden age of the internet; frankly, five years from now I don't know that you'll be able to tell the difference between those worlds," Whitten said the Streaming Media West show, according to Yahoo Tech.

As Xbox 360's video delivery services expand, Microsoft aims to make it simple for its customers to find and share content. "It won't be a remote control that consumers use," Whitten said. "A remote control is already too hard."

Whitten foresees a future where Natal recognises the users in the room by appearance and voice and is able to automatically bring up content that they'd be interested in viewing.

"The context is not one billion channels, but one," Whitten said. "One channel, with what I want, when I want it.

"With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel. With the power of my voice I can start a movie."

Article supplied by Edge-Online: 'Microsoft: Natal Represents A Giant Leap For TV'.

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Read all 40 commentsPost a Comment
he's right you know. the golden age of both has both TV and gaming has been and gone.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 27 Nov '09
Why not be able to control your TV with a swipe of your hand or voice control. Imagine no more lost controllers or rolling the batteries around to get more juice out of them.
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
Have to admit - I had already thought about this.

Even if it absolutely bombs as a gaming device, the technology could still end up being huge in other forms.

Smile
ParmaViolet on 27 Nov '09
"With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel."

Makes watching babestation a difficulty Laughing
tollyboy22 on 27 Nov '09
Hmmm

"The context is not one billion channels, but one," Whitten said. "One channel, with what I want, when I want it.

"With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel. With the power of my voice I can start a movie."

How can you flick a wrist to change a channel is there's only one channel?
shellster2 on 27 Nov '09
No, Natal costs so much more than a remote control.

And you have things such as Multi media remote controls.
feedel on 27 Nov '09
No, Natal costs so much more than a remote control.

And you have things such as Multi media remote controls.

How much more?
Black Mantis on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?
leefear1 on 27 Nov '09
"With the flick of my wrist I can change a channel."

Makes watching babestation a difficulty Laughing

Laughing Very good, Sir!
Random Hangman on 27 Nov '09
No, Natal costs so much more than a remote control.

And you have things such as Multi media remote controls.

How much more?

Indeed. Even if it is expensive I can't see it being as expensive as one of those fancy universal remotes, which I imagine would be the comparison.
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink
Black Mantis on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink

I know it is clever, but I am sure it will not be that clever. If it does do that though I will be in the market for one Laughing
leefear1 on 27 Nov '09
And this was how "Sky-net" started..... Shocked
ted1138 on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink

I know it is clever, but I am sure it will not be that clever. If it does do that though I will be in the market for one Laughing

Apparently Natal can recognise your voice as well as your heat signature. Basically, set it so that if you're in the room she has no control whatsoever Wink
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink

I know it is clever, but I am sure it will not be that clever. If it does do that though I will be in the market for one Laughing

It would be brilliant if you could program it to do certain things with specific people.

Imagine your 360 telling your mates to 'f*** off' whenever they come into the room.

Smile
ParmaViolet on 27 Nov '09
Lol at how he finds it hard to use a TV remote. If you find it hard to use a TV remote, then you really shouldn't be working in the technology industry.

Seriously, I am beginning to tire of these promotion quotes. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo need to STFU imo.
lordirongut on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink

I know it is clever, but I am sure it will not be that clever. If it does do that though I will be in the market for one Laughing

It would be brilliant if you could program it to do certain things with specific people.

Imagine your 360 telling your mates to 'f*** off' whenever they come into the room.

Smile

Isn't that a bit impersonal though. I always prefer to tell them myself.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 27 Nov '09
What happens when my wife wants to watch "I'm a celebrity" and I want to watch "QI"? Does it just go with whoever shouts the loudest?

Simply program it not to recognise her. Wink

I know it is clever, but I am sure it will not be that clever. If it does do that though I will be in the market for one Laughing

It would be brilliant if you could program it to do certain things with specific people.

Imagine your 360 telling your mates to 'f*** off' whenever they come into the room.

Smile

A more amusing idea would be to set it to ask the missus "why aren't you in the kitchen?" every time she walks into the living room.
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
No, Natal costs so much more than a remote control.

And you have things such as Multi media remote controls.

How much more?

Indeed. Even if it is expensive I can't see it being as expensive as one of those fancy universal remotes, which I imagine would be the comparison.

wellm, when i said it will be more expenisve, i did mean to say most likley, but i forgot to add it.

If it costs £60 for my Universal remote that can control 7 different things, including lights (doesn't work at home) or i can use it to change channels on my tv, and thats it.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good addition, to it being a gaming accessory. But this is no selling point in my eyes.
feedel on 27 Nov '09
This sounds like nonsense to me. If Natal is a success, it'll be the first time MS has ever truly innovated in its life. All they've ever been good at is reworking existing technologies and taking them to the mass-market.

If Natal turns out to be more accessible than a TV remote control (and that includes setting it up, getting your content where you want it, setting up your profile etc), I'll eat a hat full of rotten fish guts.
yerbluesjohn on 27 Nov '09
This sounds like nonsense to me. If Natal is a success, it'll be the first time MS has ever truly innovated in its life. All they've ever been good at is reworking existing technologies and taking them to the mass-market.

If Natal turns out to be more accessible than a TV remote control (and that includes setting it up, getting your content where you want it, setting up your profile etc), I'll eat a hat full of rotten fish guts.

The problem with your bet is that no matter how good Natal becomes your opinion of it won't change enough for you to take the forfeit.
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
I really hope something good does come out of Natal, otherwise it could well be the fail of the decade.

And you wouldn't need Natal to achieve what they have suggested with TV. Surely any manufacturer could put voice recognition in their TV's? Even a camera? Confused
Mark240473 on 27 Nov '09
This sounds like nonsense to me. If Natal is a success, it'll be the first time MS has ever truly innovated in its life. All they've ever been good at is reworking existing technologies and taking them to the mass-market.

If Natal turns out to be more accessible than a TV remote control (and that includes setting it up, getting your content where you want it, setting up your profile etc), I'll eat a hat full of rotten fish guts.

The problem with your bet is that no matter how good Natal becomes your opinion of it won't change enough for you to take the forfeit.

Hey, I'm open-minded! I'm a 360 owner and if Natal is good I'll be getting it. The test would be whether my gran could get any use from it - she can use a TV and remote but could she buy a 360 with Natal and get any use from it? I doubt it but we'll see I guess.

You're right though, I'm not really going to eat rotten fish in a hat Razz
yerbluesjohn on 27 Nov '09
No, Natal costs so much more than a remote control.

And you have things such as Multi media remote controls.

How much more?

I paid £80 (reduced from £120) for my logitech Harmony One universal remote... so as long as Natal is under £120 it'll be a bargain...
Rob S London on 27 Nov '09
This sounds like nonsense to me. If Natal is a success, it'll be the first time MS has ever truly innovated in its life. All they've ever been good at is reworking existing technologies and taking them to the mass-market.

If Natal turns out to be more accessible than a TV remote control (and that includes setting it up, getting your content where you want it, setting up your profile etc), I'll eat a hat full of rotten fish guts.

The problem with your bet is that no matter how good Natal becomes your opinion of it won't change enough for you to take the forfeit.

Hey, I'm open-minded! I'm a 360 owner and if Natal is good I'll be getting it. The test would be whether my gran could get any use from it - she can use a TV and remote but could she buy a 360 with Natal and get any use from it? I doubt it but we'll see I guess.

You're right though, I'm not really going to eat rotten fish in a hat Razz

Told you! Razz
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
And what is wrong with a standurd remote? It has worked fine for the last god knows how many years. But, people always seem to think we need to change to something else just because the tech is there.
wiikii007 on 27 Nov '09
And what is wrong with a standurd remote? It has worked fine for the last god knows how many years. But, people always seem to think we need to change to something else just because the tech is there.

Good idea. Lets throw out all our wireless controllers, take the steam train to work, listen to all our music on a gramophone and watch Spooks in black and white.
altitude2k on 27 Nov '09
And what is wrong with a standurd remote? It has worked fine for the last god knows how many years. But, people always seem to think we need to change to something else just because the tech is there.

Good idea. Lets throw out all our wireless controllers, take the steam train to work, listen to all our music on a gramophone and watch Spooks in black and white.

We could even drive around in a C5.... Laughing
Mark240473 on 27 Nov '09
This sounds like nonsense to me. If Natal is a success, it'll be the first time MS has ever truly innovated in its life. All they've ever been good at is reworking existing technologies and taking them to the mass-market.

If Natal turns out to be more accessible than a TV remote control (and that includes setting it up, getting your content where you want it, setting up your profile etc), I'll eat a hat full of rotten fish guts.

The problem with your bet is that no matter how good Natal becomes your opinion of it won't change enough for you to take the forfeit.

Hey, I'm open-minded! I'm a 360 owner and if Natal is good I'll be getting it. The test would be whether my gran could get any use from it - she can use a TV and remote but could she buy a 360 with Natal and get any use from it? I doubt it but we'll see I guess.

You're right though, I'm not really going to eat rotten fish in a hat Razz

I am still very unsure about Natal. I think it looks excellent for controlling certain things but I am not sure how it is going to work in games. How for instance will you move about in an fps style game?
leefear1 on 27 Nov '09
i predict our resident paedophile starsail to say something about the ps3's eyetoy even tho its nothing like the eyetoy, cant wait for natal to come out so i can do a minority report style menu flicking
dorian2011 on 27 Nov '09
Ive said on here a few times already that its the control aspect of Natal that im really interested in, it would be like a small scale version of Minority Report!

But for us Gamers its a Gaming peripheral first and foremost and it is Games that it will succeed or die with on the 360, the ability to use it for controlling your tv, music or whatever would be an (excellent) added bonus.

Im still in the positive Natal frame of mind though and look forward to February when we get to see the Games that Devs have been making for it.
StonecoldMC on 27 Nov '09
Voice recognition technology has existed on phones for years and it sucks bottom. Dialects anyone?
Eyhren on 27 Nov '09
I love people saying this may be the first time MS has innovated.Check out a company called 3DV.They invented and showed this tech well before MS at CES last year.Didn't have that much impact at the time but then MS bought them to eliminate the competition(so MS say)and not to use their tech.
The whole control Tv with Natal thing will be a novelty,similar to voice control on Singstar.How are you going to enable all the functions of a remote with actions?Humans are actually tactile by nature,we like to hold things and use tools.
strickers on 27 Nov '09
And what is wrong with a standurd remote? It has worked fine for the last god knows how many years. But, people always seem to think we need to change to something else just because the tech is there.

Good idea. Lets throw out all our wireless controllers, take the steam train to work, listen to all our music on a gramophone and watch Spooks in black and white.

Over reaction! Why over complicate something that is only as easy as pressing a button-thats all he is saying.
Whats wrong with you?
only_777 on 27 Nov '09
I love people saying this may be the first time MS has innovated.Check out a company called 3DV.They invented and showed this tech well before MS at CES last year.Didn't have that much impact at the time but then MS bought them to eliminate the competition(so MS say)and not to use their tech.

Didn't know about this but not surprised in the least.
yerbluesjohn on 27 Nov '09

But for us Gamers its a Gaming peripheral first and foremost and it is Games that it will succeed or die with on the 360, the ability to use it for controlling your tv, music or whatever would be an (excellent) added bonus.

DING! DING! DING! DING!

We have a winner!

What do you have for him Johnny?!
BenJy! on 27 Nov '09
I personally think that for some to be a GIANT LEAP, then it has to be a GIANT LEAP for EVEYBODY, not just americans and europeans, you can't say that your product is revolutionary to the world when your world consists of N.America and europe, that's balls man!!!! Get Netflix and Xbox Live to the WHOLE world 1st before you start saying that your product is THAT big!!!
GenMayhe on 28 Nov '09
I'm losing track of what the purpose of Natal is supposed to be and I suspect that MS have to and as such have decided it is the solution for everything.

Natal is starting to look like a very clever solution without a problem.
tmulford on 29 Nov '09
Watch this video on the 3DV website: http://www.3dvsystems.com/gallery/movies/VirtualGame.mpg

Starting to see how it could be used for games, but not traditional games. There are a few other interesting videos on www.3dvsystems.com too.
yerbluesjohn on 29 Nov '09
Giant leap for tv, small step for gaming! Wink
PS3_fannyboy on 30 Nov '09
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