Microsoft Launches Kinect for Windows SDK, Includes Gesture Sensor

[Zerosuit connor]

Microsoft on Wednesday released its Kinect for Windows 1.0 SDK, which is intended to take the Kinect sensor technology beyond entertainment and use it for things like healthcare.
At this point, the offering is focused more on businesses than consumers, but the idea is to have these companies or developers create Kinect-based products that will eventually hit the market or be used in the service industry.
The Kinect for Windows SDK is available for download now. Hardware is also shipping, but it will set you back $249; a $149 academic version is expected later this year. At this point, it's launching in 12 countries to start (United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom).
Microsoft first discussed the Kinect for Windows commercial program in November, and the program was one of only two announcements made during Steve Ballmer's recent (and last) CES keynote. Microsoft is already working with more than 200 partners, like United Health Group, Toyota, Telefonica, Mattel, American Express, and more, Ballmer said.
A beta version of Kinect for Windows was also released last year, and Microsoft today promised a variety of improvements to the program, from support for up to four Kinect sensors attached to the same computer to improve skeletal tracking.
Microsoft said it will release updates to its SDK and runtime about two to three times per year. "In fact, the team is already hard at work on the next release," said Craig Eisler, general manager of Kinect for Windows.
"Microsoft's ability to make these kinds of deep investments makes Kinect for Windows a product that companies can deploy with confidence, knowing you have our support and our ongoing commitment to make Kinect for Windows the best it can be," Eisler said.
Earlier this week, meanwhile, The Daily reported that it had seen what appeared to be two Asus laptops with a Kinect sensor built in, arrayed along the top of the screen.

Source

Microsoft has launched a version of Kinect, its voice and motion-controlled sensor, to work with Windows-based PCs.
It joins a previous version which was designed for the company's Xbox 360 games console.
The new hardware features a "near mode" which allows it to track movements as close as 40cm away, compared to 50cm on the original model.
However, the updated device costs nearly twice as much as the Xbox 360 version.

The sensor's UK price is yet to be confirmed, but in the US the Windows-compatible hardware's recommended price is $249 (£157).
By comparison the Xbox version is sold for $130 (£82).
Microsoft links the increase to enhanced features - including "skeletal tracking" and improved speech recognition - as well as the cost of developing a device that works across several systems, rather than a single games console.Scratched surface
Kinect for Windows' general manager Craig Eisler told the BBC that the company also subsidised the Xbox version and recouped the money from games and other related sales.
End Quote Virgile Delporte Softkinetic
"It's been just over a year since we launched Kinect for Xbox 360, and we're only starting to scratch the surface of what's possible," said Mr Eisler.
"The sky's the limit. We're doing a testing and adoption programme with 300 companies around the world. They're doing things that we would never think of - from the oil industry, to training, to manufacturing."
Suggested uses include allowing surgeons to navigate body scans in an operating room by waving their hands, and letting young children control educational programs by pointing at a computer screen.'Technology winner'

Source

Microsoft have only began to scratch the surface fo what kinect can do.

 

[Veho]

So it's officially supported but costs twice as much? That's not very nice How long you think before the SDK is hacked to support the X360 version?

And the four Kinects at once sounds pretty interesting.

 

[Zerosuit connor]

So it's officially supported but costs twice as much? That's not very nice How long you think before the SDK is hacked to support the X360 version?

And the four Kinects at once sounds pretty interesting.

I have seen a few videos around that siggest that windows 7 was hacked to support 4 at once, and they used kinect to take pictures from all angles and then it was converted into a 3D model of the room. Which was amazing, I might have to try and dig it up.

---

 

[Celice]

I've seen the same thing you're talking about, I think. It was pretty interesting. They were used to construct an augmented reality of the room, in which virtual objects would interact with the depth-images the kinects produced.

 

[Zerosuit connor]

Sadly I cannot find it. If anyone can please post it.

 

[Celice]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frGEzlrhve0

This might be it.

This was also cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p7YVqyudiE

 

[Gahars]

Now that it's been made and (presumably) optimized for the PC, I'm really excited to see what hackers will do with it. Anything has to be better than the current library of games.

 

[FireGrey]

I wonder if they would be able to integrate kinect in tablets.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I wonder if they would be able to integrate kinect in tablets.

...Why? You already do gestures and stuff on a tablet that's like a foot in front of you, why do you need to do gestures from a distance now?

 

[FireGrey]

I wonder if they would be able to integrate kinect in tablets.

...Why? You already do gestures and stuff on a tablet that's like a foot in front of you, why do you need to do gestures from a distance now?

to use it as a tv, that way you can use it for everything.

 

[Valwin]

can they now hack and make kinect good ? and use it for porn games ?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

to use it as a tv, that way you can use it for everything.

Because I'd totally love a 10 inch TV?

can they now hack and make kinect good ? and use it for porn games ?

Search for "Kinect Ivy" or something like that and your curiosity and odd fantasies will be fulfilled.

 

[Foxi4]

can they now hack and make kinect good ? and use it for porn games ?

Do you have a Kinect?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

What Microsoft really needs is controller support with the Kinect, aka simultaneous usage of the Kinect and a standard Xbox controller. So many problems would be solved.

I was talking to my friend about this today. Like the Star Wars Kinect demo (when the Kinect was like first announced) sounded promising. Now Star Wars Kinect looks like a shitty mini game compilation. But basically making a game where you could use the analog stick and maybe some of the bumpers on the controller to move and do some actions (jump, switch weapons, etc) and then map combat to gestures would be pretty neat. Who wouldn't get gratification out of swiping their hand like a Sith badass to throw a group of Stormtroopers across the room? I'd play it.

Side note: Firefox spell checker doesn't see "Stormtroopers" as a misspelling.

 

[Foxi4]

What Microsoft really needs is controller support with the Kinect, aka simultaneous usage of the Kinect and a standard Xbox controller. So many problems would be solved.

I was talking to my friend about this today. Like the Star Wars Kinect demo (when the Kinect was like first announced) sounded promising. Now Star Wars Kinect looks like a shitty mini game compilation. But basically making a game where you could use the analog stick and maybe some of the bumpers on the controller to move and do some actions and then map combat to gestures would be pretty neat. Who wouldn't get gratification out of swiping their hand like a Sith badass to throw a group of Stormtroopers across the room? I'd play it.

Side note: Firefox spell checker doesn't see "Stormtroopers" as a misspelling.

Well, they sort of added that kind of functionality to some Ghost Recon game as far as I remember - the game was played with the standard controller and you could modify your weapon and use the menus using the Kinect. Not much, but it was a start, at least.

Force Push would be way more awesome then a combo of buttons.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Well, they sort of added that kind of functionality to some Ghost Recon game as far as I remember - the game was played with the standard controller and you could modify your weapon and use the menus using the Kinect. Not much, but it was a start, at least.

Force Push would be way more awesome then a combo of buttons.

I guess it shows some promise on the Kinect/controller integration, but simultaneous has not yet been achieved.

But I could honestly see them re-releasing The Force Unleashed as a "Force Unleashed Kinect" or something. The game itself is pretty average but it'd be pretty fun with the Kinect. Plus the QTEs would be hilarious, nothing quite like flailing your arms to defeat a Rancor.

Yes QTEs on motion controllers are a guilty pleasure.

 

[Foxi4]

Yes QTEs on motion controllers are a guilty pleasure.

Unless SUDA51 is involved.

NMH was not a guilty pleasure - it was guilty of giving immense pleasure. I have to say, the two titles are really one of the most important "redeeming qualities" of the Wii for me.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Yes QTEs on motion controllers are a guilty pleasure.

Unless SUDA51 is involved.

NMH was not a guilty pleasure - it was guilty of giving immense pleasure. I have to say, the two titles are really one of the most important "redeeming qualities" of the Wii for me.

Oh yes agreed. MadWorld was also a redeeming quality. I'll admit, the game probably wouldn't been as fun if it weren't for the motion controlled QTEs. Even the motion controlled combat made it fun.

NMH was just in general an awesome game and definitely a strong point of the Wii, although I never found the motion controls to be make or break. I haven't played NMH: Paradise (which I think does have non-motion controlled options) but I'd like to see how the game stacks up against the original.

But both NMH games are one of the few Wii games I own, NMH2 being one of the only games I've preordered in years (the other one being Mass Effect 3). Also the only Wii game I bought after I started pirating outside of Goldeneye 007.

 

[Foxi4]

Agreed, MadWorld is pretty awesome aswell and the black and white textures perfectly conceal hardware limitations. A true poem amongst rubbish - looks just as well as a "moving comic".

Personally... I don't think NMH would be as much fun without the Motion Controls. I really liked to pretend I'm swinging them katanas lol... X3

Just for those who are curious about the Ghost Recon Kinect system...

[yt]gIjwyPhYiM0[/yt]

 

[Valwin]

can they now hack and make kinect good ? and use it for porn games ?

Do you have a Kinect?

yea with sonic free riders