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Microsoft's Kinect SDK Can Track and Listen
mikejuk writes "Microsoft has given more information on the Kinect SDK to be released later in the year. It will include the body tracking software that is used by the Xbox version of the Kinect, allowing it to track up to two people at the same time and stay locked on to them even if they leave and re-enter the frame. In addition, they promise to allow the microphone array to be used with the PC's speech recognition API. So, not only will future Kinect projects be able to track you — they can listen to what you say."
The Kinect SDK will also have a state of the art sarcasm detector.
I'm not going to worry about the tinfoil hat aspects of it. Microsoft's record of listening to anyone is pretty dismal.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Hi, I'm HAL1000, the Kinect Guide. Are you having trouble opening the pod bay doors? First, try accessing the Kinect Guide Menu by assuming the pause position, where your left hand is 45 degrees out from your body and your right hand is against your body. Next, hover your hand over the "Kinect Tuner" button. Follow the instructions, as we make you walk around the room and do silly poses for no good reason. Then repeat the words on screen, out loud, no matter how ridiculous or incriminating they might sound, as these phrases were chosen at random. Finally, find that cue card that came with one of your games. We didn't actually write what it was ON the cue card, but we figured you'd know what it was and that you wouldn't toss it out as completely useless.
Now, try the Open the "pod bay doors" gesture, as indicated on the screen. Place both hands in front of you, and seperate them till your arms are 90 degrees out from your body.
Still not working? Well, you can turn on your controller and press x...
just a moment...
just a moment...
I'm detecting large amounts of profanities and I believe you said "Why didn't you tell me that first?". Is that correct?
Wow, seems like everyone has missed the point of this article. Microsoft is releasing an SDK for Kinect development on non XBox hardware [i.e., normal computers]. This article say which Kinect features would be accessible via this SDK [camera? depth tracking? voice tracking? body tracking? etc.]. This has nothing to do with the XBox tracking you.
Wow buddy, you seem pissed off. Let me calm you down by saying nobody gives a shit about your attitude or wild anti-microsoft assertions. The bottom line is Microsoft could piss diamonds all over your bedroom and shit poop all over your enemies and you would still find something to bitch about.
Microsoft doesn't develop on my schedule and hackers have already put out SDKs. I don't know why their commercial offering would take a while, its almost as if corporations don't move as fast as small teams! I don't understaaaaand! Why would anybody care about the manufacturer of a device supporting something we all want? I'm going to complain about it! That's you, and you sound pathetic.
If I can just reach out with my words and touch a butthole, just one, it will all be worth it.