Microsoft on to a winner with Kinect
Microsoft has something concrete to celebrate, which is the success of Kinect. But as well-received as its motion-control technology has been to this point, the future looks even brighter.
Microsoft doesn’t have too many big victories to celebrate these days. Windows 7 is a hit, sure, but that’s an operating system based on a framework created many years ago. The Xbox 360 is a hit as well but not exactly a big money-spinner. And then there is Windows Phone 7, Zune, the Kin phones, etc. Which aren’t exactly glowing examples of Microsoft brilliance.
However, one huge win for Microsoft is Kinect, which looks set to be expanded far beyond its gaming roots to pretty much all facets of Microsoft’s business. And in what represents a marked change from the norm for Microsoft, the company is actually embracing unofficial uses of its system.
Kinect was released for the Xbox 360 as a Wii-style motion-control system for gaming late last year, and was an immediate hit. Millions of Xbox 360 owners have now bought the camera-based add-on and are using it to enjoy manipulating games without the need for any controller.
Upon release Kinect was hacked and some creative souls started tinkering with the system to create other uses for it. Microsoft at first balked at this but quickly changed tack and embraced the possibilities for the future this kind of amateur programming could create.
TechFlash recently spent a day on the Redmond campus being shown some of the new projects in development around Kinect. These include Mirage Blocks, which sees 3D images of objects being created and manipulated via motion control, and an unnamed effort which sees a 3D representation of a room displayed on a TV screen being viewed from different angles by use of motion control.
The Next Web also recently noted multiple examples of the Kinect technology being used by musicians, including a genius air guitar prototype that could be brilliant with a little more work.
It’s clear that Kinect is going to be a key component of various Microsoft products over the next few years, and the company can see that motion control is going to become an increasingly popular and important part of the way we interact with both technology and the world around us. If Microsoft can be the conduit then new opportunities await.
March 1st, 2011
“Microsoft at first balked [sic] at this but quickly changed tact [...]”
A tackless observation.
March 1st, 2011
It must be a real joy to XBox 360 owners to connect a Kinect and to then watch their console go RRoD.
March 1st, 2011
BTW, the word is “tack”, not tact.
March 2nd, 2011
I did indeed mess up with “tact”, now changed, but “balked” is the correct American English spelling, Hugh.
March 2nd, 2011
Hello Dave,
I must admit that I was blissfully unaware that “baulked” was handled differently in the U.S. – you learn something new every day. (Of course, “correct American English” is really an oxymoron to us purists
March 2nd, 2011
“Of course, “correct American English” is really an oxymoron to us purists”
Go Dave!
March 2nd, 2011
Hugh,
As a Brit writing for American websites it’s taken me a long time (and some help from Firefox American English spell-check) to learn the differences. I have the lack of U’s and the Z’s instead of S’s down pat, but some words still surprise/annoy me.
I’ve clearly been indoctrinated but thankfully some people are sticking to their guns and sticking with English English!
March 2nd, 2011
Dave, Peter,
As George Bernard Shaw once observed, “England and America are two countries divided by a common language”
March 3rd, 2011
I thought it was Winston Churchill and that it was three countries (UK, USA and Canada) . . . but I accept that I could be wrong.
May 3rd, 2011
Or was it Muah who said, “America is One Country separated by (at least) TWO (dozen) Languages?”