Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo: Microsoft patent for “magic wand” controller surfaces

Fairy stuff is probably the last thing you’ll find on a software company’s patent application archives, say, like a “magic wand”, but that’s exactly what we have here today. It appears that Microsoft, through J Allard, its CEO, has filed for a patent on a mysterious “magic wand”.

Fairy stuff is probably the last thing you’ll find on a software company’s patent application archives, say, like a “magic wand”, but that’s exactly what we have here today. It appears that Microsoft, through J Allard, its CEO, has filed for a patent on a mysterious “magic wand”.

The wand patent was actually filed way back in 2007, but it was only a few days ago that it was made public. According to the product description, the wand can “utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand.”

  

The main consideration for this project was:

[the] imaginative current flowing in popular culture relating to magic, which has recently culminated in the Harry Potter phenomenon. Given the widespread commercial success of Harry Potter books and feature films, as well the many predecessors in the fantasy genre such as The Lord of the Rings, Dungeons and Dragons, etc., it is readily apparent that a number of communities or demographic segments are enamored with the idea of magic. Discounting the aforementioned communities, even the most pragmatic individual would have trouble arguing against the merits or utility of, say, a magic wand that actually worked to control or communicate with objects or components in an associated nearby environment.

So to give that authentic feel, let’s go have a magic wand! Obviously, this fits rather perfectly well with that persistent motion-sensing controller/ sensor bar for the Xbox 360. I swear, it’s only just a matter of time before they fully unveil this technology.

Asked for an official statement, Microsoft gave out a predictable “no comment”. It’s possible that this project has already been shelved, but just as much, it is also possible that its coming out to the public at this point is but a prelude of other “revelations” to come.

Image and additional info courtesy of CVG.

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Via US Patent and Trademark Office