Microsoft building a huge arsenal of 3D capabilities. /

It seems Microsoft’s motion-sensing ambitions don’t begin and end with Kinect on the Xbox 360. As the acquisition of Canesta strongly suggests.

Microsoft’s supposed moratorium on acquiring companies (which actually turned out to be exaggerated anyway) is at an end, with the company buying Canesta. Canesta is a small Silicon Valley firm which specializes in motion-sensing and gesture-recognition technology.

The long (although entirely non-technical) explanation of the kind of technology Canesta produces is that it allows people to interact with computers and other pieces of technology using their bodies rather than a dedicated control method such as a mouse or touchscreen. Hands and fingers are the obvious example, but other parts of the body can also be utilized. The short explanation is Minority Report.

This kind of technology is expected to play a bigger role in the future of computing and beyond. And Microsoft is betting big on motion-sensing and gesture-recognition being the next big thing. Having already bought 3DV last year, this latest acquisition represents Microsoft building a huge arsenal of 3D capabilities.

Microsoft is, it should be noted, no stranger to the technology either. This deal comes just days before Kinect launches for the Xbox 360. Kinect, as demonstrated by both Oprah and Ellen over the past couple of weeks, is a system which allows gamers to play using their whole bodies rather than a traditional controller. It’s essentially the Wii times ten.

Kinect is flying off shelves around the world during its pre-order phase despite its $150 price tag and competition from Sony and its rival Move system. I wouldn’t mind betting that it’s this level of interest that has persuaded the higher-ups at Microsoft to throw their weight behind the technology. But I remain unconvinced it’ll successfully move beyond videogames. Even if it does I suspect Windows 8 would be a little too early.

Although both companies have confirmed the acquisition, neither has disclosed financial details. We also don’t know whether Microsoft has bought Canesta to use the technology specifically or to acquire the 44 patents the company currently holds. My guess would be a combination of the two.

by Dave Parrack

original post: http://vista.blorge.com/2010/10/30/microsoft-acquires-canesta-maker-of-3d-motion-sensing-gesture-recognition-chips/