At CES 2013, Microsoft unveiled a proof-of-concept video of IllumiRoom, the latest addition to the Kinect's repertoire of tricks. By reading the shape of a room, the new technology creates projections dynamically, extending the usable display beyond the edges of your TV.
Microsoft official site explains, "IllumRoom uses a Kinect for Windows camera and a projector to blur the lines between on-screen content and the environment we live in allowing us to combine our virtual and physical words. For example, our system can change the appearance of the room, induce apparent motion, extend the field of view, and enable entirely new game experiences."
Given the limited capabilities of the current version of Kinect, it is safe to assume that these new features may ship with Microsoft's next-generation console. IllumiRoom notably crafts its projections without the assistance of post production, a feature that hardly seems reasonable on modern Kinect hardware. Microsoft promises full details by the end of April.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of IllumiRoom is its potential to change the way user interfaces function in games. For example, extra visual information displayed outside the boundaries of the screen could provide cues that usually block the player's view of the world that developers have lovingly molded for them. Aside from the flashy lights and momentary wow-factor, IllumiRoom carries serious practical potential. Kinect 1.0 introduced the ability for players to talk to their Xbox 360s, but now it's time for us to listen to our consoles.
Last we heard, the company was also in final talks to acquire home automation company id8 Group R2 Studios. Simply put, id8 is known for Android software which allows mobile devices to control home appliances. If the deal goes through, the next Xbox's connectivity may encompass entire households.
As Latinos Post reported earlier, rumors originating from a former Ubisoft employee suggest that the Xbox 720 will sport an 8800 series GPU, 8GB RAM, an eight-core CPU, and a 640GB hard drive. However, no official specs have been announced, so take these details with a grain of salt.
Gamers won't likely have to wait long for Microsoft to open up about its next system. In fact, the company's Xbox Live coordinator Larry Hryb has set a timer on his blog which ends on the day of Microsoft's E3 Press conference. Consoles have traditionally been announced at the event in years past, so it's not that far of a stretch that the Xbox 720 will make its debut on June 11.