Several months months back I wrote a post about how I could see the Xbox’s Project Natal working well on PCs when combined with a projector, think Minority report. Since then I have been wondering what other applications the project could have and how Microsoft might look to use the technology in other devices.

I have come to the conclusion that Project Natal would be an excellent way for Microsoft to unite the three screens, PCs, TVs and Mobiles, with aspects of the touchless same user interface appearing in all three products. This conclusion came from the fact that Microsoft is a platform company and it could well be looking at making Natal the interface platform of the future rather than limiting it use to only Xbox users.

Currently each of the three screens has a different way of interacting with the content on the device; TVs use a remote control, PCs use keyboards and mice and some now use touch and Mobiles use buttons or touch. If Microsoft really wanted to work on getting themselves on the three screens on a major way (TVs and mobiles) then they should look at uniting the interface of the three screens.

Exploring Natal

Its probably best for me to highlight some of the aspects of Natal that indicate, to me at least, that the project could be suited to working on other platforms.

Touchless Control – allows users to interact with a screen without needing to touch an controls

Voice Control – allows users to control content on a screen with their voice

Face & Voice Recognition – allows the product to identify who is trying to the use the device with little interaction with it

TV

Obviously to get Project Natal to work on a TV users will only need an Xbox, however Microsoft seem to think Natal would also be a great controller for TVs without Xboxes.

I think it would be excellent if Microsoft could get some TV manufacturers to incorporate the Natal technology inside the bezel of TVs to provide Natal as a platform for interacting with a TV without a remote control. This would be the best way for Microsoft to get Natal as a platform on TVs as there are many more people who own TVs but do not have a games console, let alone an Xbox; it still has to be seen if Natal really can replace a remote control though.

As Natal is being designed to work on a TV the platform would incorporate all aspects of the project.

PC

As I said in the earlier post I think Project Natal would be excellent on PCs especially when used with a projector. I think it would be great if Microsoft were able to get manufacturers to incorporate the technology around the screens of PCs to remove the need to have yet another accessory.

I don’t think it would be possible for Natal to be the only way of interfacing with a PC, well certainly not with the current UI of Windows, but it could be a great accompaniment to the keyboard and mouse. There would be cases where the touchless control would be an easier way to navigate through programs and developers would be sure to find excellent ways to use Natal on PCs.

A PC would be able to use all aspects of Natal, perhaps users would be able to log in to their PC using the face and voice recognition and launch programs with just telling the PC to launch an app.

Mobile

For the final screen I can some of the biggest gains to interface but also some of the biggest challenges to ever seeing Natal on mobile devices.

The voice recognition and control of Natal would be excellent on Mobile devices, combining unlocking of the device with a command to allow users quicker access to what they wanted to do. This can then be used to control the mobile without the need to get greasy fingerprints all over the screen.

I don’t think the touchless control could be used on mobiles as the use of at least one camera always being on would be too great of a drain on the battery but it could certainly be useful if more mobiles are going to be featuring a micro projector.

I would like to think that the reason Windows Mobile 7 wont be out until this time next year is because they have been working hard to included as much of Project Natal, which is rumoured to be released at a similar time, in the Mobile OS. But I fear its going to take that long just because Microsoft have been very slow with the OS, although what little I have heard and understood it is meant to be a very good mobile OS.

I wonder what Microsoft’s plans are with Natal, I expect if it is really successful we wont have to wait long to see it used on other platforms or to see it become its own new platform for interacting with screen content.