Could a system like Kinect revolutionize MMOs?

"In technology there are no gimmicks, only misapplications. "

-- Albert Einstein

Actually, me. But someone should make that into a quote.

Yeah. Now. But you know, the great thing about living in an era of hyper-fast technological development --
Actually, I'll let you finish that sentence.

How do you propose the current system caters for people with disabilities?

Double Blaster is the best dance move.

Well firstly, yes, technology grows. Maybe someday we might be at a point when motion interaction in games will be viable. However, that is certainately not today.

Actually, your basic home PC has many functions for disabled users. Simply go to Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center.
Also, there is plenty of additional software and hardware on the market to cater for a whole range of disabilities.

However, motion gaming is not so disabled friendly, considering it relies much more heavily on larger body movements and there is currently no market to make it more user friendly for disabled people. Why is this? Because even to integrate it in its most basic format costs an awful lot to implement. Why would companies shell out £XYZ for glitchy motion sensors when a mouse and keyboard are both more popular and reliable? Not to mention the huge costs of adapting that interface for people with disabilities. It's a nasty reality to think about, but companies are just not willing to pay for that.

"Certainly not today". What are you thinking, then...ten, twenty years in the future? Talk about being ahead of your time, SOE!

In all seriousness, I'd be surprised if a pitch-perfect motion control system weren't introduced with the new Xbox's release.

And this is of course ignoring the fact that from the perspective of voice recognition (the aspect I focused on the most), a nearly flawless system is already in place. Ever heard of Siri?

I agree, the situation is by no means perfect. For example, I cannot use a gaming mouse with buttons on the side (number pad etc). There are great examples of largely modified keyboards and mouse for people with disabilities. Yes, voice recognition is one method used today. Even the quickest google search yielded promising results: http://www.assist-it.org.uk/assets/c...disability.htm

However, how do you suppose a motion sensor camera would cater for people with disabilities? With voice commands already in use, how is having a motion camera an advantage?

Annnnnnd I just wrote over my previous answer.

The too long didn't read version: a combat system reliant on keybinds, multiple (often simultaneous) key presses and mouse control, is a lot less "disabled friendly" than simply voicing out a command.

Did you read my original post?

I did, and I answered it. With voice recognition already in place to cater for disabled users, there is no need for a kinect style user interface. Also, the kinect style hinders disabled user more than it helps. There is much more movement involved for the kinect system to be a viable interface as well as facial expression recognition. How do you propose that feature could be made to cater for disabled people? What about people with speech impediments?

What you are suggesting hinders people with disabilities more than it helps, I have already explained that. There is already technologies to aid disabled people with the interfaces currently available. I have read your posts, understood them and answered them in a fashion befitting forum policy. I have given counter arguments to yours, posted links as well as sound reasoning.

Not if you're mute.

Now I typed up a long rant about why the kinect is awful for games, but this Extra Credits episode does a much better job of explaining everything.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/patv/epi...ect-disconnect

And yes, this somewhat applies to voice controls as well because of the lack of feedback. That isn't to say that someone couldn't use voice commands to get around a limitation, but you don't need the kinect for voice commands.