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Xbox 360 Project Natal and darker skin

Xbox 360 Project Natal and darker skin

By: Alan Ng | June 10, 2009 | 4 Comments

It has been revealed that Project Natal, Microsoft’s new motion control system, is having difficulties identifying people with ‘darker skin’. The rumor comes after former Newsweek writer N-Gai Croal had difficulties with the device.

According to this GameZine story, N’Gai Croal was testing out Burnout when the problems starting occuring. The Project Natal device could pick up his footwork on the gas and brakes, but was unable to pick up his steering. The following information found in a study, reveals that infa-red technology does find reading people with darker skin more difficulty:

“NIRS detects light absorbance of haemoglobin chromophores to determine tissue oxygen saturation (StO2). As skin colour is also determined by the presence of chromophores, it is plausible that NIRS signal quality may be affected by dark skin pigmentation.”

Read the link for the whole story. What are your thoughts on this?

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  • Slippy Sloppy

    I have to say this, for once, is better written than some similar articles I’ve read that essentially brands M$ as racists. If it is true then it’s something M$ need to work on before release, or advise everyone to play in a well lit room – regardless of race.

  • bunimomike

    Hahahahah! No way… a console (or added peripheral) that’s racist. Seriously, though… this is a tricky one to overcome, no?

    All manner of “colours” will be playing with the device (theoretically) so it’ll need sorting out ASAP. If not, Milo will be just sat there shouting “HELLO?” at the screen all day. Not good. Not good at all.

    I appreciate I can be crass/sarcastic or even downright rude (which I’m hoping to avoid on most occasions) but this is potentially a very sensitive topic for MS to deal with. It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.

  • poooooool

    Maybe he just can’t drive.Judging from the youtube video the wheel responded fine,it was the driver that didn’t.

    Rascism,americas favorite power trip….Get over it and grow up EVERYONE.

  • Scott

    I saw videos of people with “dark skin” playing it and it seemed to see them just fine. I dont remember if it was in a dark or light room but its on youtube under the project natal page