Microsoft Files Patent for Head-Mounted Display Device

Microsoft may have plans to release a head-mounted display device in the future, if a newly filed patent is any indication.

The device comes in the form of glasses and may be equipped with things like a microphone, an eye-tracking system, a depth camera, and a camera capable of recognizing the faces of other players. The patent describes it as being intended for multiplayer gaming applications, such as being able to use a voice commands or eye-tracking data to send a game invitation to another player, who could then use his or her glasses to respond.

Limiting a device like this to sending game invites might seem like a very narrow use of such a thing. While that is the sort of functionality the patent primarily describes, it notes that this is not the extent of what Microsoft may use it for.

One section of the patent refers to users interacting with the device through gestures, which could in theory then be passed on to the game you're playing as a method of input. Or, more mundanely, it could be used as the patent describes in order to allow a nod to accept an invitation sent by another player. Some sections talk about allowing players to designate which players will be on what teams through voice commands. Others refer to the different applications for the transparent display situated in front of users' eyes.

As with all patents, it's unclear whether Microsoft actually has any definitive plans for this device. It bears noting that a document leaked last year allegedly detailing Microsoft's plans for what we now know is the Xbox One included mentions of Fortaleza Glasses that could be what's seen in this patent. Those included support for Wi-Fi, 4G, and augmented reality features, and could be used both with the Xbox One and, more notably, away from it, almost like Google Glass.

The document, which reportedly dated back to August 2010, mentioned a 2014 launch for the glasses, suggesting the lack of any official word on them to date may be part of Microsoft's plans to roll them out sometime next year. That is, of course, assuming the document was entirely legitimate and that this new patent is not for one of the countless devices we'll never see.

What do you think of the possibility of AR glasses that could be used with and without the Xbox One? Do you see any possible uses for such a thing that would interest you? Let us know in the comments.

Source: NeoGAF

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer who spends his spare time agonizing over the final seasons of The X-Files. Check out what he's saying on Twitter and follow him on IGN.

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