Microsoft to launch new kinect for windows Feb. 1

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:10 pm

I seen a kinect controller for xbox on craigslist for pretty cheap which got me prowling about to see how the hackers were coming along to get this working under windows. Was surprised to see that Microsoft has had a change of heart and now actively embarrassing the idea of using kinect with the PC. Anyway the big news is they are launching a new controller for windows here in a few days.
They are jacking the price of the new kenect by $100, which by their logic is to recover loss $$, from xbox live, and the xbox games cost. Apparently there has been a beta already that works with the existing xbox controller, to what extent I dont know. It seems to me that the open source community made such the splash getting the kinect to work in linux, that Microsoft had to change their tune, or look like a bunch of asshats. Regardless of motive, this should be an interesting year. Real glad I never bought a touchscreen as I think their are fixing to be obsolete.

www.microsoft.com/en-us/kinectforwindows/

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kinectforwindows/archive/2012/01/09/kinect-for-windows-commercial-program-announced.aspx

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2012/01/microsoft-bets-big-on-kinect-for-windows-but-splits-its-community.ars

Asus already has a prototype of a kinect enabled laptop running windows 8. Score Very Happy

http://www.itproportal.com/2012/01/28/kinect-enabled-windows-8-laptop-prototypes-spotted/

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:24 pm

I think the PC would be a far better home for it than the Xbox 360. The reason I say that is nothing to do with platform preference, rather that PC has a much larger Indie developer base than any other platform. Also once modders get hold of the developers kit we will see some really original enhancements. Imagine Skyrim with Kinect features. Maybe full movement would be too much to ask but hows about activating shouts by actually shouting? Or bypassing the cumberson menu completely by using voice or hand gestures ? Whilst Besthesda are unlikely to do any of those things at this point you can guarantee the modding community would be up for it. I think it has potential but Microsoft need let go of the Kinect let people really tinker with it...

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:29 pm

The tech nology for some very cool things exists right now, but the will is not there. MS has been beaten to the punch enough times that they are starting to get the lead out of thier ass, but not soon enough as they got beat by open source linux plonkers Laughing

eventualy our PC will have standard motion tracking, and our mobile devices as well, and its a good excuse to have a coupe cams on all the time on start up. time to enjoy the privacy issues.
MS put a lot of R&D into "surface" basically a huge screen monitor with a plate of glass over it laying flat on a pedestal like a board room table, a giant touch screen! and it looks like thats going to go in the bit bucket Laughing

i envision a total turfing of the controller, and we will have a number of coloured rubber thimble on our fingertips and a set uf cam track the motion , no touch required.

Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:55 pm

Open source and hacking the kinnect have turned the Kinnect into a 3D mapping device. Instead of the kinnect sitting there whilst you flap your arms they have created software for the pc so now you move the kinnect to scan any solid object. The results are simple amazing....it can map a human body complete with expressions and render a 3D image to your screen.
This is going to change everything. The games we play now will soon be like cartoons compared to the future.
The avenue that this opens up is that actors instead of just giving voice will soon be going through the poses as the kinnect and its 3D scanning is used to render them in 3D and then we can steer Dolph Lundgren clones through the streets creating havoc and chaos.

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:28 am

If people were that active they'd go outside and play games imo. lol I've move controllers in my PS3 but I'm too lazy to stand up and hit the top spin 4 balls.
I'd rather bury myself in my fluffy couch playing skyrims whole day..

But I'd like to own an advanced version of one of these Brainwave controllers..Guess it'll enhance your thinking abilities or a possible brain damage ..let's see!!

Haier's recently giving the brainwave controllers a shot.

http://www.mobiledia.com/news/123809.html

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:03 am

The kinect failed as all motion censors will, hard core gamers sit down and play skyrim for 10 hours straight, they aint going to move around in the process.

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:06 am

That brainwave controller thingy is just plain scary.......i don't want one near me ever. Shocked

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:28 pm

im thinking it wont go farther than this stuff:

..on your fingers, even on your .XXX. and you gesture tap in air etc XXX, like the cyber pilots on TEK series(will shatner, tekwar,teklords,etc). and the pR0n stars

Laughing

the brain wave thingie is a reciever only, it picks up EM from your noggin.
this is a cool interface, and for years people have been perfecting the movement of a block cursor on a blank screen, eventually a severely disabled person will be able to pilot a droid around the house, and perhaps out to the corner store, or the club. Remember "surrogates' with bruce willis?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:20 am

Has anybody tried the new Kinect for Windows with ROS?

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:51 pm

i saw a video on youtube a guy playing skyrim with kinect and it was rlly weird i dont think he was enjoying the game so much ,i prefer the old fashion way mouse and keyboard.