Sony Opens Up Motion Controllers to Academics and Hobbyists through Move.me

Sony is expanding its motion controller capabilities, allowing programmers to tap into its Move controller and PlayStation eye for new uses. This move follows Microsoft's announcement to open up its Kinect controller to academics and hobbyists. With Mobile.me, Sony aims to create new interactive technologies in fields like academia, healthcare, and education, while also supporting new developers and inspiring innovative applications.

Key Takeaways:

• Sony will offer its motion controllers to academics and hobbyists through the server application Mobile.me, enabling them to expand on the functionality of the Move controller and PlayStation eye.
• The Move.me application will allow users to create applications for physical therapy, rehabilitation, education, music, and sports games, among other uses.
• Sony's chief engineer, John McCutchan, stated that the company sees Move.me as an opportunity to support new developers and inspire applications that they could not have imagined.
• The move contrasts with Sony's previous stance on user modifications to its consoles, as the company has been involved in several legal disputes with users who cracked its firmware.
• Unlike jailbreaking, Move.me is officially sanctioned by Sony, giving users the freedom to create custom applications while avoiding the risks associated with unauthorized modifications.
• The application's release date has not been announced, but it is expected to be available in the spring.
• This move follows Microsoft's similar announcement on February 22, where the company highlighted the innovative uses of its Kinect controller by hobbyists and academics.

Statistics:

• The Kinect community has shown a breadth of invention and depth of imagination possible when people have access to groundbreaking technology, with various uses extending beyond video games.
• Sony is officially sanctioning the use of its motion controllers for custom applications through Move.me, marking a shift in its approach to user modifications.
• The company has been involved in several legal disputes with users who cracked its firmware, highlighting the notion that Move.me is a departure from its previous stance.

Sources:

• "PlayStation Blog" - Sony senior Engineer John McCutchan's statement on the announcement of Move.me.
• "Microsoft story on Kinect for Xbox 360" - Steve Clayton's announcement of the community's creative uses of the Kinect controller.
• "IBTimes" - article on Sony's move to open up its motion controllers to academics and hobbyists through Move.me.