Check out this video demo from ABC News as the user navigates her way along the river on a raft.

In a multi-million-dollar extravaganza complete with Hollywood celebrities and a private performance by the world-famous Cirque du Soleil, Microsoft today unveiled “Kinect,” its latest technological creation for game systems, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

I thought that when news first went about Project Natal, it would be a totally different system independent of XBox. Now, it seems that it is actually a device that works in conjunction with your XBox console.

New software allows users to direct the X-Box with their body movements. Kinect recognizes player’s movements and voices , and enables users to interact with their existing Xbox 360s and some games without a handheld controller.

“You are the controller,” said Mike Delman, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business. “You simply step in front of the sensor and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and recognizes your face.”

Using full body motion capture, voice recognition and facial recognition, the device offers a new level of interaction that goes beyond immersive motion-controlled video games.

I have never had the interest to purchase any gaming console like Playstation, Xbox and even the Nintendo WII. But after this one, it sure changed my mind. I am very interested to get one. Microsoft has finally produced a product that can make them stand out from its competition.