Kinect controller coming to Windows PCs

By Barry Collins

Posted on 22 Feb 2011 at 07:44

Microsoft's Kinect interface is officially coming to the PC, with the release of a developers' kit later this spring.

The wireless Kinect interface has been an enormous success on Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, and has inspired legions of homebrew hackers to do weird and wonderful things with the controller.

Hackers have already used the device to bring gesture-based controls to Windows 7 PCs and home entertainment systems, as well as more esoteric uses, such as using the built-in cameras to turn a TV screen into an "augmented reality mirror" that shows the human skeleton beneath the user's body.

Microsoft initially resisted attempts to hack Kinect, but now seems keen to tap into the creativity of third-party developers.

The Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) will initially be launched in the next couple of months, but only for non-commercial use. A commerical SDK will be made available at a later date.

"The community that has blossomed since the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360 in November shows the breadth of invention and depth of imagination possible when people have access to ground-breaking technology," writes Microsoft's Steve Clayton, on the the Official Microsoft Blog.

"Already, researchers, academics and enthusiasts are thinking through what’s next in natural and intuitive technology. For example... students at the University of Washington’s Biorobotics Lab are using Kinect with a commercially available PHANTOM Omni Haptic Device to explore how robotic surgery could be enhanced by incorporating the sense of feel."

Microsoft sold eight million Kinect units in the device's first two months on sale.

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User comments

Minority Report

Looks like Kinetic could be included in windows 8 and DirectX 12 then at some stage.Control windows and apps whith your hands instead of a mouse.DirectX12 support would mean general access to games from kinetic.Imagine people on the Stock exchange waving their arms about to control their PC's....Oh hang on a minute they do that already.:-)

By Jaberwocky on 22 Feb 2011

Strange things could happen

I'm just thinking of a situation where an Italian, madly gesticulating in a conversation under the watchful eye of his Kinect finds he's just reformatted his hard drive.

By milliganp on 22 Feb 2011

why on earth would anyone want to wave their arms and hands to control a PC, unless they needed a workout?

By Noghar on 22 Feb 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011