Microsoft's Project Natal Enables Users to Virtually Try Clothing

Microsoft announced Project Natal, 3D camera for Xbox 360, last September. Project Natal tracks people's motions in three dimensions and has a microphone capable of voice recognition. It is to be used as a controller-free method of playing video games, tracking the player's body movements and voice and transferring that information directly to the gaming console.


Natal's hands-free applications and high quality sensors will enable Microsoft to create high quality games that incorporate users' body movements. However, one of the more unique applications of the device is not related to gaming but fashion. Natal allows individuals to scan items, such as their skateboards, for use in the console's games. It also enables users to scan clothing, such as dresses, share them with friends, and have them virtually try them on. Many companies are trying to get into the virtual scanning space in order to improve online shopping experiences, and it will be interesting to see if Natal can inadvertently enter the space.


For more information, check out the video below. The clothes scanning application shows up at around 2:20:





*Special thanks to Juanita Ochoa.

Who's Got Game? Apparently, Women

Recent Nielsen Games data released by eMarketer shows reveals that women are catching up to men in both the PC and console gaming arenas.

According to the report, the largest percentage of any group were women ages 25 to 54, who comprise 29% of all PC game players. Women ages 55 and up were 17% of the market, who spent the second-highest number of minutes playing. They were also the third-largest group, behind men 25 to 54. And although many of the top 10 PC games played by women come prepackaged with their computers, online and downloadable games (such as World of Warcraft and PictureKa! Museum Mayhem) made up about half the list.

Women can also increasingly be found playing console games, including the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Sony PlayStation 3. Women ages 25 and older tended to be more faithful to their consoles than men of the same age.