Patent reveals new uses for upcoming PS3 motion controller
- — 10 December, 2009 11:20
A recent patent application submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (dug up by GameSpot) reveals a number of potential applications for the upcoming Sony Motion Controller due out in 2010.
The application includes number of technical sketches describing potential uses for the new device, many of which mimic functions of Nintendo Wii peripherals like the Vitality Sensor or the ability to connect two controllers together. However, the proposed device appears to be more ambitious than the Wii Remote with a number of strange potential uses including:
- New attachments like a flashlight, crosshairs or even a maraca attachment with rattling beads.
- A speaker and microphone attached to the controller unit.
- A separate USB port on the underside of the controller.
- A thumb scanner that uses biometric data for game input and identity validation purposes.
- New variations of the color-changing light sphere seen previously, including a three-sphere design and one that incorporates color-changing cubes.
- Many more, all listed here.
New patents often mean new devices in the near future, but it's important to remember that Sony keeps their options open with the reminder that "the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims."
