Second Life virtual world with just a Webcam

Nintendo Wii has gained more attention from media and consumers for the innovative motion based controls. Linden Lab is now on experimenting on how to interact on an easy way with its Second Life virtual world with just a Webcam.

Codenamed Segalen, this technology uses 3D Webcams, such as the 3DVsystems to track users body gestures to let them edit and navigate within the environment.

The project has only been in real development for a little more than three weeks. Second Life users looking to get their hands on it will have to wait, however, the 3D cameras in use for the project are still not readily available to consumers. Bosut said.

The same efforts on using Webcams for gaming include the Playstation’s EyeToy series, XBOX 360 and its Live Vision camera, though neither used the 3D hardware capability that will give Kapor’s Handsfree 3D its extra capacity of spacial control.