Microsoft could be working on a Kinect-style gesture control system for future Windows Phones

With more manufacturers joining Windows Phone in recent months, it is difficult to know what role the company that develops the system intends to play now that it has the old Nokia mobile division in its ranks. The example could be what Microsoft exposed with Surface, serve as a guide and demonstrate how far a device can go hand in hand with its operating systems. If so, on Windows Phone that path may begin to show itself with the addition of Kinect-like technology to mobile phones

According to The Verge, from sources familiar with the company's plans, Microsoft is trying to introduce Kinect-style gesture control in future Windows Phones At least a device known by the code name 'McLaren' is scheduled to debut at the end of the year with features that allow us to move our fingers over it to interact with games and applications without having to touch the screen.

The technology they work on in Redmond is internally referred to as 3D Touch or Real Motion and would have been developed over years by Nokia. In order to function, it will require the presence of a certain number of sensors in the terminal that will allow it to know its position at all times and that of the objects that surround it, enabling functionalities such as answering a call by bringing the phone close to the ear, hanging it up when it is inserted into pocket, dismiss alerts by moving your hand over the screen, or activate the speakers by placing it face down on a table.

The goal seems to be to reduce the number of interactions we have to perform to perform certain tasks while trying to eliminate the need for physical buttons on the device. To do this, the future McLaren could also have laterals that allow interaction with the system and its applications, allowing you to zoom by moving your fingers around the area or making the phone activates simply by grabbing it.

All of these features would be complemented by various changes to the Windows Phone interface that will allow actions to be performed without the requirement of touching the screen. Thanks to them, users could interact with the Tiles and access their content simply with small hand gestures. As reviewed by WPCentral, the visual result could be similar to what Microsoft already tried with the MixView view of its Zune player whose video you can see on these lines.

Microsoft originally planned to announce these 3D Touch features alongside Windows Phone 8.1 and the rumored Nokia 'Goldfinger', but their introduction was delayed until sometime this yearAccording to The Verge 'Goldfinger' still exists but would have been relegated to use as an internal device and would be replaced by 'McLaren'. Microsoft hopes to demonstrate with it a system that for now would be reserved for its devices and would not initially be offered to other manufacturers.

Via | The Verge | WPCentral