Bill Gates: Project Natal Used to Control Windows Too

Project Natal was definitely the highlight of Microsoft's E3 press conference, and some would say of the entire show itself. But the gesture recognition camera isn't just for video games. That's according to Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who in a new interview with Cnet said that Natal would ultimately be used for all sorts of devices, including Windows-based PCs. Gates said Natal is going to be "for media consumption as a whole, and even if they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication." 

Natal began its life in the Microsoft Research division and it's now almost ready to be commercialized by both the Xbox and Windows units, Gates noted. "Both the Xbox guys and the Windows guys latched onto that and now even since they latched onto it the idea of how it can be used in the office is getting much more concrete, and is pretty exciting." Suddenly, mundane office meetings will be fun?

 "...I think there's incredible value as we use that in the office connected to a Windows PC. So Microsoft research and the product groups have a lot going on there, because you can use the cost reduction that will take place over the years to say, why shouldn't that be in most office environments."

And for the consumer at home, Gates believes using your body to control devices would be ideal. "I think the value is as great for if you're in the home, as you want to manage your movies, music, home system type stuff, it's very cool there," he said.

So there you have it - if Gates has his way we'll all soon be waving our hands around in Minority Report fashion to conduct office meetings, control televisions and much more. Forget air guitar - air typing anyone?