Microsoft has showcased a new experimental technology that can turn a small room into an "immersive augmented entertainment experience".
The technology, known as RoomAlive, blankets an entire room in images from several projectors, while a set of Kinect cameras means a computer can read the layout of a room and thus apply textures appropriately.
In addition, the cameras can detect where the player is standing in the room, opening up various types of interaction for games. The video demonstration, shown above, uses an augmented whack-a-mole game as an example, with players rushing around a room to tap on a projected character.
In another demonstration, one player uses a model gun to shoot various targets on the wall. Later in the video, a toy-sized 3D character model is shown shooting at other characters dotted across the living space.
Microsoft Research, in conjunction with a quartet of US universities, says RoomAlive allows people to "touch, shoot, stomp, dodge and steer projected content that seamlessly co-exists with their existing physical environment."
There is no suggestion from Microsoft that the technology prototype is commercially ready, or even intended for consumer use.
RoomAlive is reminiscent of Microsoft's Illumiroom technology, revealed at CES 2013, which enhanced the size of a television screen by projecting additional in-game images around it.
Put the internet to work for you.
