Microsoft Introduces the World to IllumiRoom at this Year’s CES

If you went to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year, you may have noticed that Microsoft did not have a booth. The company didn’t even hold an official press event. However, that did not stop Microsoft from stealing the show with one of its new ideas, IllumiRoom.

During Samsung’s keynote speech, Microsoft’s Chief Technology Strategy Officer, Eric Rudder, got a chance to come on stage to introduce the world to IllumiRoom. This is a concept that is based on combining Kinect for Windows, a projector, and an Xbox 360. In short, IllumiRoom can blur the line between your physical world and your video game with augmented reality.

Although IllumiRoom is just a prototype, Microsoft says it is proof that the concept works. During the keynote speech, they showed off a video which Microsoft claims is exactly what they experienced in their testing labs without any kind of special effects. The video itself starts off with a man playing video games. He then issues a command to his Xbox to “go big”. At this point, it shows the Xbox scanning the room (with the help of Kinect), and then images from the game are projected onto the walls surrounding the player.

However, don’t expect IllumiRoom to be lighting up your room anytime soon. Microsoft did not even release a research paper with this announcement, which is something they typically do when showing off new projects. Chances are, we won’t hear any more about IllumiRoom until E3, and that is assuming that Microsoft doesn’t pull the plug on this idea before then.

Seeing IllumiRoom

Once you get past the “wow” factor of seeing IllumiRoom in action, you will see that this concept is more of a gimmick than anything else. It’s a very impressive one, but a gimmick either way. Chances are, Microsoft does not even plan to market this technology, but just wanted to showcase how augmented reality can change the way we game. One reason this project may never get off the ground is the high cost to the consumer. Not only would users have to own an Xbox 360, but a Kinect and a projector as well. That is assuming, of course, that is all you need for this impressive feat to take place.

So why show off this technology if they have no plans to use it? There is a good chance that the concept behind IllumiRoom may have something to do with the next-generation Xbox that is rumored to be shown off at this year’s E3. This “proof of concept” demonstration may be nothing more than Microsoft’s way of gagging consumer and content creators’ reaction to the concept. After all, this technology would be useless without the support of game developers.

This may be the last time you ever hear the name “IllumiRoom”, but chances are, this is not the last time you will hear about this concept. Now it will be interesting to see where Microsoft takes this idea.