As we get closer to this year’s E3 event, where Microsoft has promised to more fully reveal and demonstrate its Project Natal motion-sensing and voice recognition technology, the competition is heating up between two different schools of thought with regards to motion-based interaction for videogames: device-based, or hands-free.

Sony’s PlayStation Move and Nintendo’s Wii are both device-based, while Microsoft’s Project Natal technology is completely hands-free, able to sense and recognise the movements of every part of your body in 3D space. How is this possible? In part, thanks to hardware and specifications provided by Israeli company technology company, PrimeSense.

PrimeSense, “the leader in 3D sensing and recognition technologies,” has announced that it will indeed be providing its leading-edge 3D-sensing technology for use in Microsoft’s Project Natal for Xbox 360.

Vice President of Xbox 360 hardware Ian Spillinger said of the partnership with PrimeSense: “PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room.”

President and founder of PrimeSense, Aviad Maizels added:

“Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the ‘Project Natal’ sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design to support the special requirements of ‘Project Natal.’”

Project Natal is due out during this Holiday season, which will be just in time to go head-to-head with Sony’s motion control solution, PlayStation Move.