Kinect

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Kinect Holiday 2010

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Kinect is a line of motion sensing input devices by Microsoft. Initially released in November 2010 for the Xbox 360 video game console, Kinect enables users to control and interact with their console/computer without the need for a game controller, through a natural user interface using gestures and spoken commands. The product offers an advanced blend of camera, infrared projection, and microphone technology to provide full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities.

Development

The development of Kinect was a response to the Wii Remote of the Nintendo Wii, which captured the market with its motion-sensing capabilities. Microsoft aimed to broaden the gaming audience beyond traditional gamers by offering a more interactive and immersive form of gameplay. The project, initially codenamed "Project Natal," was led by Alex Kipman, who is credited with the invention of Kinect. The technology behind Kinect was a result of Microsoft's acquisition of 3DV Systems, a company that developed 3D imaging technology.

Technology

Kinect's technology is a combination of hardware and software that allows the device to perceive the room in 3D under any ambient light conditions. It consists of an RGB camera, depth sensor, and multi-array microphone running proprietary software, which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities.

RGB Camera

The RGB camera captures video data in color. It is used for facial recognition and other applications that require visual identification.

Depth Sensor

The depth sensor consists of an infrared laser projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor, which captures the distance between the sensor and objects in front of it. This technology allows Kinect to build a 3D map of the environment and recognize human figures, differentiating them from other objects in the room.

Microphone Array

The multi-array microphone captures voice commands from the user. It is capable of isolating the voices of players from background noise, enabling voice recognition and commands even in noisy environments.

Applications

While Kinect was initially developed for gaming, its applications have expanded into various fields such as healthcare, where it's used for physical therapy and patient monitoring; education, where it facilitates interactive learning; and retail, where it enhances the shopping experience through virtual fitting rooms. Kinect's technology has also been adopted for robotics and as a tool in research and development projects across multiple disciplines.

Reception and Legacy

Kinect received mixed reviews upon its release. Critics praised its innovative technology and potential to change the gaming industry but criticized its lack of precision in certain games and the requirement for a significant amount of physical space to operate effectively. Despite this, Kinect had a strong commercial launch, setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling consumer electronics device within the first 60 days on the market.

In 2016, Microsoft announced the discontinuation of the Kinect for Xbox 360. The Kinect for Xbox One, which was released in 2013, was also eventually discontinued as a standalone product in 2017. However, the technology behind Kinect lives on and has been integrated into other Microsoft products, such as the HoloLens, and continues to influence the development of motion-sensing technology in the gaming industry and beyond.

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