Kinect Control Hardware Coming to Windows Confirmed for 2012

Microsoft Launched almost exactly a year ago to bring Kinect motion tracking technology to its Windows based PC ecosystem. Microsoft has also been quite receptive to allowing hackers in the traditional sense of the word to develop new uses for the webcam based device.


Ever since the revolutionary gaming technology has been launched, hackers have been tinkering around with it, coming up with ways to push the use of Kinect beyond gaming. The Xbox games console holds the Guinness World Record as the fastest selling consumer electronic device ever, shifting 8m units in its first 60 days.
Microsoft said that building on its commitment to bring Kinect for Windows software to customers in 2012, Microsoft co-founder Gates reiterated his long held view that natural user interfaces such as gestures will be crucial in the future of computing. The company has decided to dish out specialised Kinect hardware along with the software, optimised for use on a PC.

Microsoft is planning an event that will let winners demo their products for potential investors. The company plans for keyboards and mice for navigating PCs, and shorten the USB cable for easy PC connectivity and add a USB dongle to make it easier for users to connect other devices. Microsoft has enabled for Kinect the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimeters in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision.

The new Kinect Accelerator program “will give 10 tech-oriented companies using Kinect (on either Windows or Xbox360). This is one of the most requested features from the many developers and companies participating in our Kinect for Windows pilot program and folks commenting on our forums, and we're pleased to deliver this.