Microsoft's Illumiroom: Holodeck?

[jakeyjake]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/microsofts-illumiroom-demo-frees-gaming-from-its-tv-cage/

I bet that title caught your eye? Am I pulling things out of nether regions? (Totally a minecraft reference) Or am I speaking the truth?

Usually when a television screen bleeds, it's not cause for celebration, nor does it signify the cutting edge of new technology. Microsoft's Illumiroom challenges that thought, using Kinect and a projector to transpose relevant video and images around the TV, on walls and furniture, while playing games.

Illumiroom can add flickering lights, particles and ambiance to certain games, or expand the environment in others, though it's still a prototype for now. Microsoft showed off Illumiroom in a video at the Samsung CES keynote, and it looked something like the above film.

"IllumiRoom is a proof-of-concept Microsoft Research project designed to push the boundary of living room immersive entertainment by blending our virtual and physical worlds with projected visualizations," the Illumiroom YouTube description reads. "The effects in the video are rendered in real time and are captured live – not special effects added in post processing."

They recently announced their project, the Illumiroom, which through use of a projector and Kinect, your TV will expand and fill your room! The video looked really cool. Don't forget, this is still a prototype, so just imagine what could be done with this? The portions being projected were different than if they had simply expanded the viewing area, so anything could be thrown in there, or not thrown in there, if it makes the gaming experience better.

I for one cannot wait for Dead Space or Resident Evil for Illumiroom.

 

[Yumi]

Whoa! I am so happy to see such project at work.
I do hope to see this really soon...come on future!<3

//
omg, we have a spammer//
edit: it's abolished now.

 

[Valwin]

more like lamedeck

 

[Maxternal]

Peripheral vision isn't that high res anyhow. Not bad. Kinda wonder where you'd have to put the projector, though.

 

[jakeyjake]

Peripheral vision isn't that high res anyhow. Not bad. Kinda wonder where you'd have to put the projector, though.

it might get better if this is only a prototype. they have hd projectors.

 

[Maxternal]

it might get better if this is only a prototype. they have hd projectors.

true but it's hard to put in image in focus when the screen isn't a fixed distance away.

 

[Fluto]

My eyes... hurt...

 

[Ethevion]

Cool idea, Forza would be awesome like that.

 

[jakeyjake]

Cool idea, Forza would be awesome like that.

I was thinking Mineraft. lol. Shooters would gain an advantage online, if you could see enemies as blips even through walls. wowza.

 

[Bobbyloujo]

Do want. Do want now.

true but it's hard to put in image in focus when the screen isn't a fixed distance away.

It seems as though there is some sort of room scanning process that may calculate the distance to walls.

I hope this actually happens.

 

[KingVamp]

Maybe if I get a house with a extra room I may get this. I think it would look and work better with as
less stuff in the room as possible. Wouldn't even need a TV for that room.

 

[Janthran]

People seem to have a hard enough time discerning between fantasy and reality. I really don't think this is a good idea.

 

[431unknown]

What was so fantastic about that? Looked like a fucken disco light and a shitty disco light at best.

 

[Gahars]

Alright, so this isn't quite at the "Star Trek" level. On the bright side, though, when this holodeck has a malfunction, you won't have to worry about Abe Lincoln chasing you down with a fire axe.

 

[Taleweaver]

I'm glad they showed an actual living room (as in: with a television inbetween ikea furniture instead of a blank wall). It may not be as spectacular, but at least they understand the customer isn't going to redecorate their entire living room to fit the gaming device.

Also: I must admit I'm intrigued. It does mean games will have to be developped with a much larger FOV (Field Of Vision) than thus far, but that's hardly an issue.

 

[DiscostewSM]

It's cool, but to be quite blunt, it is more of a distraction than it is a helpful element, as its most likely contribution is giving the room a light show.

 

[Tigran]

My problem is a simple on in this case... WTF is the price on this?!

 

[duffmmann]

Whoa! Honestly, I love it. Its a total Nintendo idea and it came from Microsoft (though that wii light patent does come to mind). I'm glad to see stuff like this. This is what video games continue to need, innovation.

However, I know that realistically, its not something that would have a large install base. I can't imagine the quality projector you'd need would come cheap, being required to have Kinect is also a bit of a bust.

 

[jakeyjake]

Whoa! Honestly, I love it. Its a total Nintendo idea and it came from Microsoft (though that wii light patent does come to mind). I'm glad to see stuff like this. This is what video games continue to need, innovation.

However, I know that realistically, its not something that would have a large install base. I can't imagine the quality projector you'd need would come cheap, being required to have Kinect is also a bit of a bust.

exactly. And it's just a prototype. Once developers get their hands on it there's no counting what kind of awesome uses they'll put this through.

 

[The Catboy]

I think I am going to pass on this. It's cool, don't get me wrong, but not something I am interested in personally.