So, speech-heads, world cup season has descended upon us in all its sweaty rowdy glory. I should disclose now: I remain mostly ambivalent about sports in general, but I know some of you are excited and can’t stop talking and blogging about the world cup (not to mention those of you who painting your faces. For you, I have no comment).
Anyhow, this all brings me to the recent xbox 360 addition (which will be available for November, so maybe in time for the other “football”), Kinect. Kincect’s selling point is that you control it with your (possibly wild) gestures and voice. You will be able to talk live with friends about the game, so you can heckle and argue in real-time. Basically, now it’s not only your family (and neighbors) who might hear what you think of the Yankees.* You can have your own network of hecklers.
Microsoft also states in its release that the camera will pan the room to follow you (useful, but creepy) and that the system will be intuitive.
Also, what’s of more interest to me and speech-brother Adam B. is the music component, which will have seven million songs that one can play music using voice commands or gestures. The catch: you’ll have pay for a subscription from Zune. But with that price comes possibilities for spying, er, observing what your friends are playing and, as usual, you will be able to get suggestions on what music you might like. Though I can already tell you, I’m not always into what Adam B.’s listening to.
Oh, and of course there are video games. To control these games, you move or make gestures (the press release says you’ll be able to simply kick a ball by kicking your foot.) There’s also movies, etc., for all the details, go to the website.
*for the record, don’t come after me. I remain firmly on the fence with this whole Yankees versus whomever conversation. Leave me out of it. I’ll be drinking iced coffee and watching Iron Chef. Now, Flay versus Morimoto, that I’ll have an opinion about.
