Kinect for Windows Can See You Up Close

[Marshall Honorof]

Kinect for Windows Can See You Up Close

Kinect is on its way to Windows with USB connectivity, a close-range camera, and a new initiative to help budding developers.

The Kinect has had a few fun games, but the really exciting Kinect applications have had Kinect for Windows [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/114115-Japan-Builds-Kinect-Powered-Seeing-Eye-Robot-Dog]. This PC peripheral is not for games, but for educational, entrepreneurial, and scientific purposes. This developer-centric device will offer USB connectivity, a camera that can track motion at arm's length, a full software development kit (SDK), and a program to give grants and tools to aspiring developers.

Craig Eisler, the general manager for Kinect for Windows, explained the Kinect's new features and initiatives in the Microsoft Developer's Network blog. "[We] have optimized certain hardware components and made firmware adjustments which better enable PC-centric scenarios," he writes. "Of particular interest to developers will be the new firmware which enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision." Any gamer who has a Kinect for the Xbox 360 set up in his or her living room knows that you generally have to stand pretty far away [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_278/8271-Make-Room-for-Kinect] for the games to work properly. For reference, 50 centimeters is less than 20 inches - your face is probably more than 20 inches from your computer screen right now.

Developers who want to play with the Kinect should also take note: Microsoft is willing to give you a lot of money. "The Kinect Accelerator [initiative] will give 10 tech-oriented companies using Kinect (on either Windows or Xbox360 [sic]) an investment of $20,000 each, plus a number of other great perks." Eisler does not detail these "other great perks" just yet, but with an improved SDK, $20,000, and a PC-friendly Kinect, a savvy developer could put something pretty cool on the market.

The debate about the Kinect as a viable hardcore gaming platform is still raging in internet forums everywhere, but the device has definitely proven its utility elsewhere. Kinect for Windows is set to launch in "early 2012," so get ready to lean in close to your PC and control things with your mind. What? The brain sending signals to your hands still counts as your mind.

Source: MSDN Blogs [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kinectforwindows/archive/2011/11/22/kinect-for-windows-building-the-future.aspx]

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[Dr_Horrible]

Kinect for Windows? Sounds cool. I had always kind of wanted to hack a kinect or something just to play around controlling my pc with it.

You know what also works great with computers? Keyboard controls and a Mouse!

Yeah, but it could make a cool toy, at least.

 

[Seventh Actuality]

Sweet, now I can not give a shit about Kinect with authority rather than from a purely hypothetical standpoint!

 

[Something Amyss]

Now make a console version that doesn't require a regulation football field!

You know what also works great with computers? Keyboard controls and a Mouse!

The devil, you say!

 

[Xanadu84]

This is kinda cool, actually. Potentially like Minority Report on an actual computer. The coolest thing about the Kinect was all those nifty hacks random people made, and this could make those a lot easier. Be a while before it is useful for a user like myself but still, good use of the kinect.

 

[Waaghpowa]

This is kinda cool, actually. Potentially like Minority Report on an actual computer.

True, but I think I'll contain my excitement until they produce the hologram screens to go with it.

Basically this.

Unfortunately, until that happens, I wont be enticed to spend the 150 bucks for one.

 

[evilneko]

Read: Microsoft gives up on marketing Kinect as a gaming device, tries to entice the business and research worlds.

 

[Techsmart07]

It seems kind of interesting to me. I might consider buying the kinect to tool around with it, although not right away (try to get it on the cheap).

 

[Otaku World Order]

Because nothing says "Professional Office Environment" like seeing office workers flailing their arms like deranged chickens to enter data into Excel.

Seriously though, what functionality could Kinect add that the touch screens of my offices new computers can't?

 

[Cenequus]

Because nothing says "Professional Office Environment" like seeing office workers flailing their arms like deranged chickens to enter data into Excel.

Seriously though, what functionality could Kinect add that the touch screens of my offices new computers can't?

Well that's exactly what Microsoft is doing,giving incentives to people to develop for it. Also what's with the "flailing hands to enter data" couldn't you just like talk? Or if you insist on typing I don't think it would be that hard to develop an "invisible" keyboard since it says how good the accuracy is now(20 inches).

 

[robert01]

HAHA! Now Microsoft can spy on you while you wank to whatever weird fetish pronz you might be into.

I only see this having GREAT use in schools, and mediocre use in places like interactive advertising and the like.

 

[Otaku World Order]

Well that's exactly what Microsoft is doing,giving incentives to people to develop for it. Also what's with the "flailing hands to enter data" couldn't you just like talk? Or if you insist on typing I don't think it would be that hard to develop an "invisible" keyboard since it says how good the accuracy is now(20 inches).

Since there's already voice recognition software and PC microphones available, what's the point of Kinect for that purpose? That's my main question: What does Kinect add that doesn't already exist in one form or another besides motion sensing (i.e. flailing)?

I'd like to be proven wrong, but I don't see anything to get excited about with this.

 

[Shycte]

That's why Kinect is so great for Microsoft, the technology can be used in products outside the Xbox 360, and probably even outside gaming. And good technology equals good money...

 

[Toeys]

This is a good help for ppl with a handicap(i could imagine), its also good for ppl that have a problem using a mouse getting mousearms and whatnot.

I can also imagine this being good for artwork, perhaps in a 3d enviroment.

Also that was the single coolest thing about minority report(as mentioned already)

In games it might be good for... i dont know.. headbutting?

 

[LeonLethality]

I think this is where the Kinect should ind it's home, it's not all that great for gaming (thought there are a few rare cases where it should be) but all these hacks people are making for it give it quite an interesting use, I think this was a great decision on Microsoft's part. I'm interested to see what'll come of it.

 

[Toeys]

That's why Kinect is so great for Microsoft, the technology can be used in products outside the Xbox 360, and probably even outside gaming. And good technology equals good money...

You know the PSMove has additional uses as well... just not as innocent as the kinect

 

[somonels]

( `3´) Shiiii, I can do that with 1 webcam.

 

[Aprilgold]

You know what also works great with computers? Keyboard controls and a Mouse!

Yeah, but it could make a cool toy, at least.

Then you realize you have to stand up at your computer desk to use it, and it may or may not work at all.

Only reason I would get this is so I can make a mod to where you have to play minecraft like its a full motion game. You walk by raising your legs, as if walking in place. To switch weapons you use you items you use your left hand and point at the item in particular, open inventory is to swipe your left hand right across the screen to open your inventory, same as selecting a item from the bar, then swiping it in the same way again. With your right hand you push out to use your item on one thing, and moving your right hand moves the camera.

Running in place sprints.

 

[sleeky01]

Because nothing says "Professional Office Environment" like seeing office workers flailing their arms like deranged chickens to enter data into Excel.

Seriously though, what functionality could Kinect add that the touch screens of my offices new computers can't?

By the same token, why would your offices require touch screens?

 

[Cenequus]

Because nothing says "Professional Office Environment" like seeing office workers flailing their arms like deranged chickens to enter data into Excel.

Seriously though, what functionality could Kinect add that the touch screens of my offices new computers can't?

Well that's exactly what Microsoft is doing,giving incentives to people to develop for it. Also what's with the "flailing hands to enter data" couldn't you just like talk? Or if you insist on typing I don't think it would be that hard to develop an "invisible" keyboard since it says how good the accuracy is now(20 inches).

Yeah. Lets all spend 200 bucks on fucking Kinect and another 200 on a table that can generate an invisible keyboard that offers no touch feedback.

Oh no, wait, thats a terrible fucking idea. My cheap plastic Microsoft keyboard gets the job done better than anything else, and I am willing to bet that Kinect and virtual keyboards wont be doing it better any time soon.

I am reminded of that old story in which the US spends thousands of dollars trying to develop an ink pen that works in space while the russians just used a pencil.

OT: Im not going to rule out the possibility of something cool coming out, but Kinect in an office or school environment? No. Bad idea. Anyone who has spent even a minute in the most empty and calm office knows that having all workers blabbering at their computer rather than just type is a bad idea. As for schools, we already have touch screen boards that are hooked up to PCs! At least most first world countries we do! Why in Gods name should we use some stupid piece of shit that costs loads of money when the only actual improvement is that the teacher can now drag things across the screen from the other side of the classroom (providing all 20-30 children present at that time miraculously freeze and hold perfectly still so poor old Kinect doesnt get confused) instead of just actually touching the screen or moving a mouse?

You missed my whole point,I was sure making 2 crude examples but i'm neither a software nor hardware developer so I can't imagine what smart people came up with. Also the way you imagine kinect now and what could be in 5-10 years is like comparing a Pentium 1 with a Pentium 4 10 years later. The point is development and Microsoft seem to be doing just that by actually helping those that have good ideas and skills to actually do it.

As for how I see this into a near future: well atleast for my PC for example it will be just the monitor with extra "stuff" inside and no other hardware.Since bigger and bigger monitors seem to be the fad something like kinect seems more appropiate than touch screen. Also laying in bed pressing invisible buttons.

But beside the stupid stuff I can imagine,all their doing is giving people not only the freedom to work on a newish technology but also the money.What's wrong about that?