We wrote about Kodak’s Theatre HD media player back in July, and noted that there was a limited amount of discussion about the device’s motion sensing interface.

Hillcrest Labs has since announced that it is supplying the underlying technology for Kodak’s box. This is the first consumer electronics deployment for Hillcrest’s HōME platform, and the first announced customer for Hillcrest’s HRK (HōME Reference Kit). We’ll have more details and a hands on as soon as Kodak releases the Theatre HD box.

In2Games, the UK-based gaming motion controller manufacturer released photos and more information about their Gametrak Freedom, the company’s forthcoming motion controllers for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

In2Games has already launched a similar controller for the PS2, but is moving its development efforts to the current platforms.

While Microsoft and Sony have yet to make any big moves forward on motion control, and while Nintendo continues to gain mind- and marketshare with the Wii, it’s good to see the aftermarket bringing full motion control to the other major platforms.

gametrak-freedomjpg

Well, probably not, but it may be an interesting supplement.

BBC has an interesting article up about developments in Japan using ultrasound as an interface device for gaming and other devices.

According to the article, researchers at the University of Tokyo are experimenting with ultrasonic fields as a haptic input device, combining ultrasound emitters with a visual tracking camera to provide users with a ‘feel” of the objects that they’re manipulating onscreen. It’s still early days for the technology, but it’s an interesting way of providing haptics in a controller that go way beyond the simple “rumble” found in today’s systems and without requiring special gloves or other hardware.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on!