Sony has announced The PlayRoom for the PS4: an augmented reality application that uses the PS4’s Camera and DualShock 4 controller for fun and innovative experiments. The application tracks the Light Bar on the controller using the PlayStation Eye Camera to create holographic panels around you on the screen, allowing you to use the touch pad to scroll and select the various options.
Features include:
- A “sci-fi genie” called Asobi who can be summoned by rubbing the touch pad like a magic lamp. The flying robot recognises you and other people, and you can interact with it by touching him. The trailer above give you an example of how interactive the robot is.
- Holographic Air Hockey game that uses a pair of DualShock 4 controllers. On the screen, the play field is projected between both controllers so each player can stretch, twist and bend it to try to get the upper hand, while using the touch pad to move the paddle up or down to return the ball.
- AR Bots that are beamed down into the controller, allowing you to peek inside the controller and look at those guys having a secret party: a quick roll left and right, a big shake and you send them off flying, with each movement of the controller accurately translated on the screen. This feature makes uses of the DualShock 4 controller’s Dual Motors and Speaker in tandem to create that tactile illusion.
- Creating 3D plastic toys for the AR Bots to chase after using your mobile phone, tablet or PlayStation Vita. You can draw anything you like, flick it and it becomes a 3D. And when you’re done, just hoover the room clean using your DualShock 4 controller before moving to the next activity.
The application shows just some of the possibilites developers can create using the PlayStation 4 Camera and DualShock 4 controller, and it’s a perfect test-bed to see those possibilites in action.
