Microsoft Prepares To Push Kinect Everywhere Windows Is

An anonymous reader writes "Technology Review has an update on Microsoft's effort to push Kinect gesture control technology beyond the Xbox console and make it a standard Windows computer accessory. Microsoft has sold Kinect for Windows hardware to developers since February and now products based on it are appearing, such as GestSure's system for surgeons in the operating room. Microsoft won't say when it will begin selling Kinect for Windows hardware directly to consumers, but seems poised to do so once enough developers have readied applications."

Comments

And Kinect for Windows 8 Phone

[Anonymous Coward]

Just hold your phone out in front of you, and wave you other arm and legs to control. It's so simple, even a three year old can do it.

Re:And Kinect for Windows 8 Phone

[tchall]

Just hold your phone out in front of you, and wave you other arm and legs to control. It's so simple, even a three year old can do it.

ONLY a three year old could do it!(VBG)

Look Ma, No Fingerprints

[Jeng]

Well that is one way one to make Windows 8 easier to use on the desktop.

Re:Look Ma, No Fingerprints

[NatasRevol]

Of course, you have to move your hands all the way to the edge of the camera to get the options.

Relevant Article

[TyIzaeL]

Microsoft confident all future technology to involve waving your arms around like a fucking crazy person

Re:Relevant Article

[NatasRevol]

So awesome.

“You could even tap out numbers on a make-believe number pad to call someone on your cell without actually having to take it out your pocket. Fuck knows how you’d talk to them, but who the hell cares when you’re basically Tom Cruise from Minority Report.”

With the technology likely to become commercially available within the next few years, analysts expect it to be popular among Kinect users and other people with no self-respect.

How about

[afidel]

How about they fix it on the xbox first. I can't even watch a DVD on the XBOX without a controller for some reason.

Re:How about

[gewalker]

Check out leap watch the video, still claiming that that will ship in early 2013.

Re:How about

[ChromaticDragon]

Why would anyone want the Kinect to control DVD playback?

I have the Kinect. I like it for some things. But I believe game developers need to spend much more time creating things for which the Kinect works well rather than trying to shoehorn it into existing games (including future versions, etc.).

But why don't you just get a modern Universal Remote? X-Box ought to be a standard option. Works fine for me.

What Apps?

[Anonymous Coward]

I have this application that keeps track of my personnel and HR resources. Before Kinect, I hated to fire people. It was always a miserable experience.

But now with Kinect, I love to fire people! I rewrote the code so all I have to do is highlight your HR Record, stand in front of my Kinect, and dance, baby, dance!!! Kinect made Christmas fun again. We're usually low on money around Christmas, and with the new fiscal year, we often have to lay people off in bulk. So, my HR staff and I have dance-offs to decide who goes and who stays! It's a real hoot! If HR wins, you stay for another day! If I win, *poof* you're gone!

Thanks Microsoft!!!

The hardware

[Dyinobal]

I don't have any issues with Kinect it's pretty good hardware, you can get better but the idea and the price is rather good. If it came with my PC or was a fairly cheep upgrade say 50 to 75 dollars i"d pick it up.

Until they get that though I really doubt I'll pick it up. That and there needs to be a genuine application that kinect is genuinely a must have for.

I would rather ...

[Githaron]

... have one of these.

Re:Clearly anyone that uses windows

[Antipater]

I just want to be able at some point to say, "Oh. A keyboard. How quaint."

GestSure

[Anonymous Coward]

GestSure? Gesture? More like "Guessed? Sure!" Am I right? High five gesture!

I got sucked in by Kinect hype

[nysus]

When it first came out I thought "gimmick." Then I read blogs and new stories for over year after it came out with people talking about how cool it was. I still didn't believe it. But when it came time to buy the XBox for my kid, I decided we needed to have it just to see what it was about. I was actually excited to try it out. We lived our first weekend with the living room in disarray so we could have room to use it.

Of course, the novelty wore off very quickly and all it does now is collect dust and take up space in front of the TV. It's voice control sucks and using it with the menu system with gestures is just annoying. It's far easier to use the controller.

At least I can say I tried it, I guess.

Re:Clearly anyone that uses windows

[mspohr]

Back in the bad old days when I was forced to use a Windows computer, I used to wave my hands (and one particular finger) at it a lot... it didn't seem to do to much but it made me feel better.