Microsoft today unveiled a new initiative, dubbed playful
learning, that will use the Xbox 360 Kinect sensor to increase
the ways kids interact with some of their favorite educational
television programs. Those programs include Sesame Street and
National Geographic. The goal is to get kids off the couch,
interacting with the shows in new ways. For example, if Cookie
Monster says during an episode of Sesame Street, “Stand up and
clap your hands with me,” the system will recognize whether the
child is playing along and Cookie Monster will interact
accordingly, according to the company. “Now kids will be able to
have adventures with their Sesame Street friends and be a part
of the adventure in a way that’s never been possible before,”
said Miles Ludwig, managing director of content innovation at
Sesame Workshop. ”We’re very excited about this partnership with
Microsoft that will capitalize on new technologies to bring
altogether new kinds of educational and of course entertaining
experiences to families.” Micros