Last year, Microsoft went to great lengths to publicize its new motion detection input controller. The Xbox Kinect was set to revolutionize the way we play games, compute and communicate with our electronic devices. Well, it now turns out that excitement may have been short lived. World-leading Taiwanese PC manufacturer Asus has jumped headlong into the motion sensor arena with its curiously named Wavi Xtion.
First unveiled at the Cebit expo in Germany, the Xtion device is all set to provide to the PC what the Kinect provides to Microsoft’s Xbox. PC usage is certainly more widespread across the world as compared to game consoles. By implication, motion controllers readily available for the PC would enable greater innovation by a wider segment of software and hardware developers. Possible uses include gesture-enabled software navigation, leading to people possibly operating their computers by hand gestures meters away on their sofas.
This is arguably the future of computing. The revolutionary new device may usher in a new era of personal comfort and ergonomic development for the computing industry. The music and entertainment industry could also turn out to be a huge winner. Dancing and choreography could see new forms of innovation as musical instruments learn to respond to human movements. Previously, dance consisted largely of the human body moving to music. Now, the converse could be made possible as human movements begin to create music. Professional music composition and execution by bodily gestures might also be possible.
The new motion sensor could affect such diverse industries as building security systems, animal welfare and zoology. Advanced autonomous systems and increasingly intelligent robots could learn to respond to environmental stimulants in whole new ways.
