There are news reports this morning that Microsoft is looking to acquire the Israeli startup 3DV Systems, makers of the Z-cam depth sensing camera. Whilst their interest may initially be in the gaming space to support the X-box, expect to see this technology moving into broader applications in the coming months. This field is full of startups, many in stealth mode, and this will not be the last acquisition we see in 2009. As I said at the start of the year – 3D is going to be BIG!

In one of the industry sessions at CES MIke Griffith, CEO of leading game developer Activision Publishing claimed that online video games were poised to eclipse other forms of media entertainment, and provide numerous trends and statistics to support his case. I am strongly inclined to agree with him, although it isn’t exactly a startling revelation given the developments over the past couple of years. As I have pointed out on many occasions, gaming represents the cutting edge of technology today and certainly encompasses some of the most innovative minds who can see how the powerful technology can be used, and how new forms of interaction can attract and retain new audiences. Look at the success of the Nintendo Wii with it’s inertial sensors in the hand controller. 

Gaming is becoming social computing at it’s best – changing the way we interact with technology and with each other, helping to build new communities, providing new opportunities for user generated content, pulling us in to compelling story lines that make us care about what is going on in the virtual world into which we have immersed ourselves. To touch people at that emotional level is the key to their ongoing success and attraction. In his presentation, Mike Griffith talked about the three basics of gaming, technology, community and interaction – but emotional involvement, immersion and community are where it is really at. In these difficult times there is also the opportunity to escape into a world where you feel more in control. The great depression of the 1930’s was the heyday of the spectacular Busby Berkeley style musical extravaganzas, a fantasy world about as far as it was possible to get from the harsh realities of the real world, and the audiences flocked to see them. Maybe Guitar Hero is the 2009 equivalent?

What has been interesting over the past couple of years is the degree to which gaming has broadened beyond the simple shooter, adventure and driving games into user generated content (Sony’s Little Big Planet for example) and music (Activision’s Guitar Hero), not only breaking out of the male gamer stereotype (yes, girls want to be rock stars as well!) but competing more directly with other forms on entertainment and activity.

But so what I hear you say (if you have even got this far!). Well there is mounting evidence that the skills acquired on the game controller are transferable into real life, driving, flying, even in surgery! Gaming, and the more “respectable” simulation are well established in the learning environment with ongoing work by many organisations such as the Serious Games Institute to expand the growth of “serious games”. People learn by doing, not by reading (or even watching), so learning in a 3D collaborative environment helps people acquire new skills and understanding more quickly than they would otherwise do so, and in a much safer and less costly manner.

3D collaborative environments such as Second Life might appear like a game, but they are acquiring more business orientation with extensions like Immersive Workspace and more closely meeting the growing needs of business users to work effectively together without the need for travel – something which will be increasingly important in the coming months as the economic climate starts to bite into budgets. Some time ago IBM studied the role of gaming in business leadership (you can download a copy of the report here). “If you want to see what business leadership will look like in three to five years, look at what is happening in online games” concluded Byron Reeves, co-founder of Seriosity Inc., IBMs partner in the study.

So the next time the kids are driving you nuts with their gaming, kick them off the system and get in there yourself – you may even enjoy it and you will certainly learn something about user interfaces and the social role of computing in the future.