Project Natal is a new technology under development at Microsoft's Xbox division. It's an accessory that connects to the Xbox 360 video game console, made up of cameras, motion sensors, and a microphone.

Natal lets you interact with your games without a controller in your hand. You (along with your friends or family members if you're playing a multiplayer game) can stand in front of the TV and move your body to control what happens on screen. The system recognizes who you are as soon as you step up thanks to facial recognition technology, and you can give voice commands in addition to using movements.

According to Microsoft, Natal is precise enough to recognize facial expressions and emotion, so it can be used for more than just simple arcade-like games. For example, that facial expression recognition was used in tandem with the voice recognition to interact with a fictional boy on screen in a demonstration at Microsoft's E3 press conference.

Microsoft hasn't publicly said how much Natal will cost or when it will be available, but it has confirmed that the tech will work with all existing Xbox 360 consoles. On November 11th, 2009, gaming publication MCV published an article claiming that insiders in Microsoft's meetings with third party developers say the accessory will launch in November of 2010, and that it will only cost between $50 and $80.

Check out the Project Natal concept video from the E3 keynote on the Product Details page.