Microsoft patents an Xbox holodeck
Add another device to the future Xbox peripheral lineup: the “environmental display,” a device that sits on top of a television that, along with a future version of the Kinect, would project peripheral environments on the walls and furniture of the play-space.
From Patently Apple:
Microsoft states that while the example primary display and environmental display shown in FIG. 1 includes 2-D display devices, “it will be appreciated that suitable 3-D displays may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.” Furthermore, Microsoft states that in some embodiments, “the user may enjoy an immersive 3-D experience using suitable headgear, such as active shutter glasses configured to operate in synchronization with suitable alternate-frame image sequencing at primary display and environmental display.”
I don't see how Microsoft would get this into one simple device that sits in front of the user without creating a blinding light directly in view. But using projection mapping in conjunction with Kinect could provide some interesting, if ultimately gimmicky experiences.
Ever since Kinect became available, I've wondered why Microsoft hasn't commercialized a wireless, networked version that could operate as an adjunct to the low-latency primary Kinect that must be hard-wired to an Xbox or PC, allowing the possibility of 360° tracking or motion interface outside of the living room. An environment projector wedded to an ancillary Kinect placed at the sides of rooms would be a better (and more expensive) experience.
Anyway, all patent-filing dreams, not something to expect in Xbox 3.