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Microsoft May Unveil Wii-Like Remote in June

By Drew Nelles, Newser Staff

Posted May 19, 2009 5:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Just-released patent applications suggest Microsoft has indeed created a so-called “Magic Wand” to rival the Wii remote, the BBC reports. It could come out at next month's industry expo in Los Angeles. The applications say the wand has "biometric sensors" that would detect "fingerprint, hand geometry, hand vein pattern, palm pattern, and grip configuration," and would have a "facial thermogram, a facial feature, a retinal feature, or an iris feature.”

Insiders speculate the Wand will be an Xbox version of the famous motion-sensitive Wii controller. "We thought they were going to show something off at the E3 Expo in 2007—some sort of waggle stick—but nothing materialized," a gaming writer says, adding that Microsoft had to "jump on the motion sensor bandwagon."

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer addresses the annual Microsoft shareholder's meeting Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, in Bellevue, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

A man walks on the Microsoft headquarters campus Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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There was talk, a long time ago, about mapping people's faces on to characters. However, there were concerns that people would stick real faces on it—such as Gordon Brown—and then spend all day shooting them. - Gavin Ogden, c&vg.com

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