Microsoft: Natal Could Replace TV Remotes

30 Nov 2009 at 13:25:53 by Bill Vaughan

While speaking at the Streaming Media West show last week, Xbox Live general manager Mark Whitten said he believes Natal may replace the remote control for TVs.

By using a mix of voice control and hand gestures, Xbox users will be able to change channels and start films. But Whitten wants more human reactions to be picked up by the upcoming device:

“Watching a movie is a passive input, but a TV should understand what you're trying to do,” Whitten added. "Laughter is an input," he said. "Yelling at the TV when I know an answer on 'Jeopardy' is an input. Attention is an input. The number of people in the room at one time is an input."

Whitten has a vision of a future where Natal recognises who is in the room, how many people are present, is able to judge what they want to see on their screens and to act accordingly.

"I believe that this will be the largest leap of TV experience since the remote control," said Whitten.

Via Yahoo Tech.

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