Sony's Eye Toy was a true innovation. Not in the sound and definitely not in the graphics departement, but rather in the gameplay area that combined body movement with a revolutionary user-interface - the camera.

But this is not where it ends, of course as technology doesn't stand still. The Human Connectedness group at the MIT's Media Lab Europe (based in Dublin - Ireland) has come up with a cool new interface to 'multiplay' with others. Two camera's, 2 walls, 2 projectors and a broadband connection.

How does it work?
Well, the players see each other on giant life-size images projected onto a wall whilst a camera filmes and transmits both players (or teams) movements. One of the games features a virtual glass wall that is divided into several virtual blocks. The players will have to kick the ball onto the wall (virual glass) and break the blocks as fast as possible. The software calculates which glass segment broke (+ shattering sounds) and shows both players which blocks are still intact (real-time).

Now what are the advantages ? Apparentely, people who 'play' together and more importantly -break into a sweat together- are more likely to bond into a kind of friendship.Quite an interesting study which could have an impact on "team-building" incentives within international corporations. No more expensive airplane tickets - just a friendly match of soccer or squash ... Belgium VS the USA :)

I forsee a bright future for online dating and cybersex :D

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