“Project Natal” is a code name for a world-shattering new way of controller-free gaming. See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. “Project Natal” tracks your full body movement in 3-D, while responding to commands, directions, even a difference of emotion in your voice. It is an add-on peripheral for the Microsoft Xbox 360 console.

With controller-free gaming you don’t just control the superhero, you are the superhero! Full-body tracking allows the “Project Natal” sensor to capture every move, from head to toe, to give players a full-body gaming experience. Greet and speak to characters in the game, or simply step into view of the sensor to log into Xbox LIVE and connect with friends. “Project Natal” makes sharing in all the fun a snap. Talk or watch a movie in the same living room or on the other side of the world — no headset, no keyboard and no controllers required. It’s just you, your friends, your family and a whole new way to play.

How Does “Project Natal” Work?

Custom processor: A Microsoft proprietary software layer makes the magic of “Project Natal” possible. This layer differentiates “Project Natal” from any other technology on the market through its ability to enable human body recognition and extract other visual noise.

“Project Natal” sensor: “Project Natal” is the world’s first system to combine an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor running proprietary software that brings the “Project Natal” experience to every Xbox 360 console. The “Project Natal” sensor tracks full-body movement and individual voices, creating controller-free fun and social entertainment that is available exclusively on Xbox 360.

RGB camera: “Project Natal” has a video camera that delivers the three basic colour components. RGB camera helps enable facial recognition and more.

Depth sensor: An infrared projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor allows “Project Natal” to see the room in 3-D (as opposed to inferring the room from a 2-D image) under any lighting conditions.

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