Using shape recognition

Jul 7, 2009 20:41 GMT  ·  By

It seems that Sony simply cannot get enough motion tracking. After revealing the new wand-driven motion tracking system at the E3 expo, which took place in Los Angeles last month, the company has just registered another patent related to tracking motion in order to control videogames, this one relying not on specific peripherals but on simple household objects.

Siliconera has observed the new patent and even has some images related to it. The PlayStation Eye camera will be used in order to recognize the shape of any object the gamer wants to use and will then watch its motions to control the videogames that are being played.

The example Sony offers is that of the gamer using a U-shaped block. After this is scanned by the Eye, it can be turned up in order to control a lightsaber-like weapon, while turning the block down will shut down the same weapon.

Sony might be interested in seeing players use baseball bats to play baseball simulation games and hockey sticks to play hockey videogames. It would certainly be a step up from the wand which, although it can be used to play sports games that use peripherals, might be a bit awkward.

Still, Sony has to prove that the PlayStation Eye is both quick and accurate enough to rival a Wiimote enhanced with Wii Motion Plus and Microsoft's Project Natal when it comes to motion tracking. This could happen as early as spring 2010, when the wand is set to be released to the public.

With the Nintendo Wii being the best sold home gaming console of its generation, both Sony and Microsoft seem to be interested in offering new and intuitive tracking technologies in order to attract new gamers with the same mechanics that the Wii offers. Still, even with the solutions from Microsoft and Sony coming in 2010, the Nintendo Wii will probably continue to dominate sales.