Microsoft shows off new 'holodeck' system

TV not big enough? Microsoft shows off new 'holodeck' system to turn your ENTIRE living room into a screenIf you've ever wanted to recreate the cinema in your living room, or wondered what Star Trek's holodeck would really be like, Microsoft may have the answer.

The firm has revealed an astonishing prototypes projector and scanner than can turn an entire living room into a screen.

Microsoft has refused to reveal details of how the system works until it is presented at a computer graphics conference later this year. 

However, the firm did say: 'It augments the area surrounding a television screen with projected visualizations to enhance the traditional living room entertainment experience.

'IllumiRoom uses a Kinect for Windows camera and a projector to blur the lines between on-screen content and the environment we live in allowing us to combine our virtual and physical worlds.'

The Kinect sensor, more usually used to allow users to control computer games, is known to contain several sensors capable of tracking a user's movement in highly accurate detail. 

Microsoft also shows of the system scanning a room to create the perfect 'holodeck'.

'Our system can change the appearance of the room, induce apparent motion, extend the field of view, and enable entirely new game experiences.

'Our system uses the appearance and the geometry of the room (captured by Kinect) to adapt the projected visuals in real-time without any need to custom pre-process the graphics. 

The Kinect will also be able to recognise the furniture in your room, either incorporating chairs and tables directly into the game, or masking them by adapting the video output to render the items invisible.

It conjures up an image where a gamer could literally turn around in their living room to see an enemy sneaking up behind them.


'What you see in the videos below has been captured live and is not the result of any special effects added in post production.'

The firm patented the gadget last year, but refused to reveal any details.