Sony unveiled its own version of a motion controller at E3 last month. This controller, which resembles a wand, uses the PS3′s Eye Camera to read its moves and represent them on the screen. Some might consider this step progressive for Sony. Others consider the move a rwiip-off. But, it looks like the PS3′s Motion Tech controller might deliver us a little more than just a magic wand.

The below image, retrieved from joystiq.com, is a look at the new technology Sony is patenting around the motion tech controller. The Eye Camera will be able to read an everyday object held in front of it, and store that object in its memory. In doing so, it makes the object a controller. In this case, a U shaped block (left side) is held in different ways, facing either up or down. By changing its position, a player can make his in-game character swing a bat, or ignite a laser sword (right side).

Siliconera.com quotes the patent, claiming the technology is able to, “include items such as coffee mugs, drinking glasses, books, bottles, etc,” and this list is not exhaustive.

What does this mean? Pretty soon we will have interactive handles for tennis raquets, hilts for medieval swords, and possibly even golf ball retrievers for lightsaber staves! I think there is something in the Book of Revelations about this…

Assuming the device works properly, the potential for this technology is near limitless, but that is a rather large assumption. After all, Sony’s previous efforts toward motion capture (a.k.a., the Sixaxis Controller) have been a bit half-hearted and leave something to the imagination. It would be wise to move toward this device with some optimism, but a nice side of skepticism.

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