News Microsoft unveils IllumiRoom gaming technology

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013.

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  1. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013
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  2. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    At times that looked incredible, at others more of a gimmick but still, might keep my eye on this.
     
    GeorgeStorm, 10 Jan 2013
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  3. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    How does it not project across the TV screen and therefore overlay it?
     
    SchizoFrog, 10 Jan 2013
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  4. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    I'll let the article answer that question:
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013
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  5. Bloody_Pete

    Bloody_Pete Technophile

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    I'd find it distracting personally...
     
    Bloody_Pete, 10 Jan 2013
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  6. SchizoFrog

    SchizoFrog What's a Dremel?

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    Right... so I'll ask again. HOW does it not project across the screen? Does it produce white light across it rather than the images? Would that not affect the TV and produce a reflective white light on the TV?
     
    SchizoFrog, 10 Jan 2013
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  7. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    It doesn't project anything across the TV - why would it? The projector will use DLP and simply turn a rectangle the size and shape of the TV black.
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013
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  8. mi1ez

    mi1ez Modder

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    I like the idea of this, but the amount of extra GPU grunt it must take would surely make it impractical? Certainly for an XBOX.

    Would love to give it a try though!
     
    mi1ez, 10 Jan 2013
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  9. blacko

    blacko What's a Dremel?

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    well its running on a 360...so....yeah extra gpu may not be needed.
     
    blacko, 10 Jan 2013
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  10. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Perhaps for an Xbox, but an Xbox 720? One thing that jumps out of the video is that the IllumiRoom image is quite clearly of a lower quality compared to the main picture. As well as running at a lower resolution - as far as you can tell from the video, anyway - the textures are significantly simpler. In some examples - the outline environment, the effects-only section, the snowdrop and star segments - there are no textures at all.

    That's likely how the trick is done: after all, if the IllumiRoom could produce an image as good as that of the TV, you wouldn't need the TV at all...
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013
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  11. steveo_mcg

    steveo_mcg What's a Dremel?

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    Its only filling your peripheral vision, it doesn't need to be hi res or very detailed just enough to blend from the display. It looks very cool but I expect MS will come up with some way of making a mess of it prior to general release.
     
    steveo_mcg, 10 Jan 2013
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  12. sniperdude

    sniperdude Minimodder

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    looks awesome
     
    sniperdude, 10 Jan 2013
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  13. Guinevere

    Guinevere Mega Mom

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    Wonderful idea because everyone has a hi-def projector aligned to project at the entire wall.

    It's a tech demo, with the tech itself a very basic extension and twist on projection mapping tech we've all seen elsewhere, including Sony for their PS3 ads blended with a bit of Philips Ambilight

    http://vimeo.com/34605168#
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZcDHIIXDs

    This "unveiling" is not a real product and it will never be a real product. It's totally impractical as anything other than a "Aren't we clever" demo.
     
    Guinevere, 10 Jan 2013
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  14. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

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    If you've got a projector, why not just play games on that...?
     
    Flibblebot, 10 Jan 2013
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  15. GeorgeStorm

    GeorgeStorm Aggressive PC Builder

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    Projectors aren't that great to play games on, need a darkish room etc for best performance.

    I don't think they're claiming everyone is going to have it tomorrow? It's a potential product?
    It's far better than Ambilight, and more realistic than the PS3 thing as far as I can see?
     
    GeorgeStorm, 10 Jan 2013
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  16. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

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    Yes, because it would be impossible for Microsoft to strap a Kinect sensor - £82 - to a short-throw pico-projector - £75 - and sell it as a £160 add-on product. What madness would that be?!
     
    Gareth Halfacree, 10 Jan 2013
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  17. theshadow2001

    theshadow2001 [DELETE] means [DELETE]

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    I think the effects coming off the screen look cool. But when it simply extends the screen it looks a bit meh.
     
    theshadow2001, 10 Jan 2013
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  18. schmidtbag

    schmidtbag What's a Dremel?

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    I wouldn't consider this technology to be anywhere near as gimmicky as touchscreens, on the other hand, I'd rather use the object recognition feature for a projector being the main display rather than have a TV along with a projector. That way people can could make a spherical room or something and have their game surround them. It would also allow things like movies to work, not just games. I think this has an awesome potential but I don't see anyone buying a projector (which tends to be more expensive than kinect) JUST so they can see fire and snow flakes out of their peripheral vision.
     
    schmidtbag, 10 Jan 2013
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  19. Blackshark

    Blackshark What's a Dremel?

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    Gosh have projectors really come down that much in price? What an old fart I am, remembering buying a projector that did 1024 XGA for 1200 GBP 6 or 7 years ago.

    I agree with the thinking that some of the effects were great. I especially liked when the flame and laser shots went outside the TV. That was clever. The picture above sucks as did some of the effects. And I am not sure quite how much the marketing department have messed with that end video, I suspect quite a bit. You would also need a pretty 'dark' room - the only way projectors can cope with lighter rooms nowadays are the tech built in to the pull down blinds. Normal home walls and furniture will be a whole mixture of colours, shades, materials, textures ..... A bit like the Philips ambilight TV tech. Its ok, good in a few cases, not great in most.
     
    Blackshark, 10 Jan 2013
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  20. blacko

    blacko What's a Dremel?

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    i remember seeing this a while back and i thought it was going to be some sort of VR / knightmare.

    how wrong was i!
     
    blacko, 10 Jan 2013
    #20
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