'Kinect' with Your Windows PC

Transcript by Newsy.com

BY BRANDON TWICHELL

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If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Microsoft announced it will release a software development kit for the Kinect - a motion sensored controller for the Xbox 360. That kit will allow the consumer to create personal apps and use the Kinect for the Windows PC. (Video Source: After-Mouse)

Some hackers and researchers already took advantage of the Kinect when it was released last winter, leaving Microsoft in the awkward position of deciding whether to support the research. A writer for ITworld says the kit will help bridge the gap between Microsoft and hackers.

"It's a shame that Microsoft has let the Kinect more-or-less wallow in its smallish selection of launch titles for four months, but for those of us watching our Kinect sensors gather dust, the release of the SDK for Windows can only be good news."

Microsoft says on its official blog the kit will let consumers access the Kinect's "audio, system-application interfaces, and direct control of the Kinect sensor." (Video Source: Youtube)

A writer for Tech Tree says Microsoft may take advantage of the Kinect more for the release of Windows 8.

"The Kinect for Windows would certainly require good graphics card for better graphics and 3D interface support. Windows 7 does have under-utilized touch control feature and Microsoft would certainly add the gesture control support technology in Windows 8."

A tech reporter for BBC got to watch a number of demonstrations from Microsoft's Kinect researchers and explains how the Kinect is Microsoft's future.

"So we saw a screen which presents two different images to two viewers sat side by side. The Kinect camera tracked their eyes, presenting one object to one person, something completely different to the other. In future, then, you could sit in front of the television watching football, while someone else watching the same screen got a soap opera."

But a tech blogger for Forbes says all of Microsoft's innovation is worthless without a good marketing campaign.

"My kid uses Kinect, and he didn't even know it could take audio commands. As far as he is concerned, it is a means to play a couple of games. My worry here is that Kinect is an MP3 player, and someone will come along with an iPod."

Microsoft says the kit will be available for non-commercial use this spring - and a kit for commercial use will be released later.



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News & Politics

Tags:

• microsoft
• software kit
• development
• kinect
• motion sensor
• xbox360
• personal apps
• windows pc
• sdk
• audio system application
• interface
• graphics
• 3d
• camera
• eye tracking
• mp3
• commercial use
• non commercial use
• motion
• multisource
• tech news