BRETT WATT
COMPUTER SCIENCE 1631
WINTER
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Originally known by the code name “Project
Natal”
Microsoft Kinect is a hands free gaming system
built for the Xbox 360 gaming console
Kinect uses a small infrared scanner to acquire
human movements and transfer them to the
Xbox 360 console. It allows users to control
anything in the game without the need for a
gaming controller.
Kinect uses movements and spoken commands
to create the image on the screen
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Many critics believed
Microsoft would not
be able to compete
with the current
Nintendo Wii because
of consumer loyalty
60% of households in
the US do not own a
video game console.
Goal of Kinect was to
attract a new video
game market
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Over 1 million Kinect units sold worldwide in the first
10 days
Over 36000 retailers in 38 different countries
Jan 06 Microsoft announces that they have sold over 8
million Kinect units
Number crushed Microsoft's early expectations of
selling 3 million units by the new year
Fastest selling consumer electronic device in history
according to chief financial officer Peter Klein
Contributing to 3.7 billion dollars in revenue for
electronic devices, which is up drastically from the 2.4
billion last year
Drove Xbox 360 sales up 21% from the previous year
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Advantages
 No controller required
 Play games as a team
 Full body experience
 Kinect picks up every body motion made within the sensors range
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Use your own equipment
 Kinect is able to scan equipment from home and put it in the game. For
example if you were playing a skateboard game you can scan your board in
and use it throughout the game
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Facial and voice recognition software
 Program your face, and voice into Kinect and when the console is
turned on it knows exactly who is going to be using the console
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Connect with friends face-to-face
Get great exercise with enjoyment of playing video games
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Not many full games on the market
Mini games are only great for a short period of
time
More targeted to families with young kids, not
good for the “hardcore gamer”
If it is proven to be a success people believe the
new games are going to be way over priced
Play Station Move has more games available
May be hard for companies to create new
games without any type of controller
MICROSOFT KINECT
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“The Kinect uses a
horizontal bar with an
RGB camera, depth
sensors, multi-array
microphones and an
infrared projector that
combines with a CMOS
sensor to see 3D under
any lighting conditions”
The Kinect is a brand new
idea, nothing like this has
been invented yet
PLAY STATION MOVE
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“The move has a three-axis
linear accelerometer and a
three axis rate sensor to track
motion with an internal
magnetometer, and
vibration-based haptic
technology”
The move advertises the
controller that is used and
how buttons become useful
in video games
Just advancing on the
Nintendo Wii, not a new
type of gaming system
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Built for every age
group
Many different types of
games
Today’s world is very
focused on staying
physically active and
Kinect incorporates this
into the gaming
New to the market, first
ever controller free
gaming
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Most advanced Kinect
technology invented
Players projection put
onto screen
Exercise by yourself,
with a personal trainer,
even a class
Personalized workouts
Feedback system
Track your own
progress
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What hackers have done using Kinect
Developed code to hep robots respond to gestural
commands
 Created interactive public art exhibits
 Able to surf the web using the hand motions
 Using windows 7 applications such as word, and
PowerPoint
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Microsoft left an
open source driver
for P.Cs so that
people can open
the USB
connection to have
the ability to try
different things
with the new
Kinect system .
This leaves people
with many
options on how
they want to use
their system
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Prime Sense- Israel based company teaming up with
ASUS a Taiwan based company to make a Kinect like
software for the computer
Prime sense helped Microsoft create Kinect and now
are going to be creating the same type of item for the
P.C
After going through tests the new WAVI Xtion does
not seem to be as fast or as advanced as Kinect.
Release date set for early 2012
Device connects you to all computer software on T.V
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Uses the hand gestures to control every feature, browse the
web, listen to music, play games ect.
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Sensor
Colour and depth-sensing lenses
Voice microphone array
Tilt motor for sensor adjustment
Fully compatible with existing Xbox
360 consoles
Skeletal Tracking System
Tracks up to 6 people, including 2
active players
Tracks 20 joints per active player
Ability to map active players to
LIVE Avatars
Audio System
LIVE party chat and in-game voice
chat (requires Xbox LIVE Gold
Membership)
Echo cancellation system enhances
voice input
Speech recognition in multiple
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Field of View
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Horizontal field of view: 57 degrees
Vertical field of view: 43 degrees
Physical tilt range: ± 27 degrees
Depth sensor range: 1.2m – 3.5m
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Data Streams
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320×240 16-bit depth @ 30
frames/sec
640×480 32-bit colour@ 30
frames/sec
16-bit audio @ 16 kHz
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Microsoft increased profits to over 20 billion in
2010, largely due to the success of the Xbox and
Microsoft Kinect
Microsoft planned to spend 500 million on
marketing Kinect for its release
After selling over 8 million copies in the first
two months. Microsoft expects to increase
revenues by 40% in the year 2011 after a strong
2010. Microsoft Kinect will play a large role in
what kind of profit Microsoft will recieve
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http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=microsoft-kinecthack (Hackers)
http://yourshapegame.us.ubi.com/your-shape-fitness-evolved-learnmore (your shape fitness evolved)
http://gizmodo.com/5723924/wavi-xtion-its-kinect-for-the-pc-with-anawkward-name (WAVI Xtion)
http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-announces-8-million-kinectunits-sold-50-million-xbox-360039s-sold (early popularity)
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/playstation-move-vs-microsoftkinect/ (playstation move)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10253892-235.html (early stages)
http://nexus404.com/Blog/2010/06/30/microsoft-kinect-fullspecifications-uk-pricing-detailed-ms-kinect-technical-specificationsconfirm-kinect-can-only-track-2-active-players-simultaneously/
(Specifications)
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32679/Microsoft_Sees_Record
_Quarterly_Revenues_On_Kinect_Xbox_Strength.php (Money Matters)