It’s a great feeling when one of your kids grows up and becomes a “man” (or “woman”). They’re out on their own in the big bad world. You hope and pray they’ll be able to meet the challenges that come their way. And you watch with pride as they take their place in society, building their own homes, and raising their families.

So on this day, when the technology developed by Israel’s Primesense officially leaves its nest and begins to make its way in the world, we send our blessings and good wishes to the final version of the company’s 3D sensing device, now officially called Microsoft Kinect (formerly called Project Natal). Will it be a Wii-killer? Microsoft certainly believes it will, and we can only hope gamers (and Christmas shoppers!) agree.

Come November, gamers all over the world will be using the most sophisticated 3D tracking interface ever invented (so far), thanks to the depth analysis hardware/software developed by Primesense for Microsoft (although, according to this story, which does a good job of explaining the Kinect’s technology, Microsoft’s lead may not last forever). You cant’ get much bigger than MS, and it’s great to see one of “our own” making the big time!

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“Peace in our time,” or an underhanded Arab attempt to embarrass Israel? A spokesperson for Microsoft’s offices in Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday that the company would be releasing its Project Natal 3D controller in October – in time for the winter gifting season. According to this,

Speaking in an interview, Microsoft Saudi’s Marketing Manager, Syed Bilal Tariq, has confirmed that Project Natal will be releasing worldwide sometime in October… Tariq goes on to say that more information will be coming at E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo, June 15-17).

Note, btw, that the interview is being broadcast on KSA2, Saudi Arabia’s English language TV service, which I actually receive here in Israel, thanks to my non-YES satellite dish. Unfortunately, I missed the Saudi morning news today, so I’m glad someone recorded it

So what’s so weird? Just this: The Natal 3D controller, which is the key of the system, is 100% made in Israel, by a company called PrimeSense (look for my upcoming great interview with PrimeSense boss Inon Beracha, coming to an internet near you this week!).

PrimeSense has developed a wandless 3D technology that tracks tens of thousands of points in space at one time (as compared to the two points Nintendo Wii trackers can follow), and extrapolates the information to capture every move of anyone or anything that ventures into the sensor’s field of vision. “It’s like wearing a suit with tens of thousands of Wii points,” Beracha told me. Besides being far more effective, the PrimeSense box is extremely inexpensive to produce, meaning that prices on xBoxes could actually come down (or at least not go up!). Note that the video below is from an MS press conference in Tel Aviv last month demonstrating the PrimeSense technology.

One thought that occurred to me was that Tariq was hoping to embarrass PrimeSense by giving an unrealistic date for the system to be on the market, one that would be too early – thus making the Israeli company look bad, either by failing to supply the sensors on time, or by rushing them out to market and mucking up Natal. Fortunately, PrimeSense completed development on the sensor awhile ago, and they are all ready for market, Beracha told me.

So what’s the head of MS Saudi Arabia doing touting a great piece of Israeli technology? Does he have more loyalty to the corporation than to the “ummah?” And considering what an “Israeli outfit” Microsoft is (it’s home to the third largest MS dev team in the world), should a good Israel-hating Saudi even be working for the company?? And how is it that MS isn’t on the Arab boycott list??? Mr. Tariq, if you’re out there – the (Israeli) people want to know!