Kinect is an array of sensors which allow you to interact with technology in a completely new and intuitive way. There is no ergonomically designed controller... there is only you! Kinect works by using a variety of cameras, both visual and infrared to detect your position in 3D. The software can identify and track your joints/skeleton to allow for a 'virtual' you to carry out movements in an Xbox 360 game. Kinect is also a microphone and can accept data input as spoken word.
In May 2012 version 1.5 will bring greater power to the Kinect software. This will enable skeletal tracking of seated people and great language support, as reported by Engadget. The update will also include "Kinect Studio" to give developers more tools to develop applications for use with the kinect sensor.
Microsoft have removed the limitation of using the Kinect sensor on an Xbox 360 games console and allowing it's use for Windows PC's. This technology is really powerful when applied to all sorts of applications. Microsoft highlight on their webpage, Kinect for Windows Features, applications such as in stroke patients recovery, interacting with presentations in schools and interacting with computers in "minority report" stlye.
For more information see Microsofts Kinect for Windows page.
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