In a recent interview with Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, CNET was privy to some pretty interesting information regarding the oft-discussed Project Natal. Gates mentioned that the technology being added to the Xbox 360 is something that we can expect to see a lot more of, and talked about a future where it would be a part of all consoles, televisions and PCs. More from that interview:

I'd say a cool example of that, that you'll see... in a little over a year, is this (depth) camera thing." Gates said it was not just for games, "but for media consumption as a whole, and even if they connect it up to Windows PCs for interacting in terms of meetings, and collaboration, and communication.

In fact, Gates mentioned that the technology is already commonly used in their own offices:

I think the value is as great for if you're in the home, as you want to manage your movies, music, home system type stuff, it's very cool there ... and I think there's incredible value as we use that in the office connected to a Windows PC. So Microsoft research and the product groups have a lot going on there, because you can use the cost reduction that will take place over the years to say, why shouldn't that be in most office environments. 

Can you imagine waving your hands around in front of your computer to tab between windows? It could be all Minority Report around these parts sooner than you think.