Introduction to Microsoft KINECT

Microsoft Kinect is poised to shake up the video game console experience. Announced and demonstrated as Project Natal in June 2009, Kinect seems almost magical the way it can "see" every movement of your body and reproduce it within the video game you're playing. Plus, it recognizes your face and voice so it can pick you out in the room and know who you are, even if you're playing with a group of friends. November 2010 marks Kinect's historic and anticipated release as a new addition to Microsoft's Xbox 360 product line.

Full Body Gaming

Controller-free gaming means full body play. Kinect responds to how you move. So if you have to kick, then kick. If you have to jump, then jump. You already know how to play. All you have to do now is to get off the couch.

It’s All About You

Once you wave your hand to activate the sensor, your Kinect will be able to recognize you and access your Avatar. Then you'll be able to jump in and out of different games, and show off and share your moves.

Use Your Voice

Kinect uses advanced entertainment technology to respond to the sound of your voice. Just say "Xbox" to reveal a series of voice commands. So you'll be able to control HD movies with the sound of your voice—no remote required.

The Kinect Sensors

The innovative technology behind Kinect is a combination of hardware and software contained within the Kinect sensor accessory that can be added to any existing Xbox 360. The Kinect sensor is a flat black box that sits on a small platform, placed on a table or shelf near the television you're using with your Xbox 360. Newer Xbox 360s have a Kinect port from which the device can draw power, but the Kinect sensor comes with a power supply at no additional charge for users of older Xbox 360 models. For a video game to use the features of the hardware, it must also use the proprietary layer of Kinect software that enables body and voice recognition from the Kinect sensor.

There's a trio of hardware innovations working together within the Kinect sensor:

• Color VGA video camera - This video camera aids in facial recognition and other detection features by detecting three color components: red, green and blue. Microsoft calls this an "RGB camera" referring to the color components it detects.
• Depth sensor - An infrared projector and a monochrome CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor work together to "see" the room in 3-D regardless of the lighting conditions.
• Multi-array microphone - This is an array of four microphones that can isolate the voices of the players from the noise in the room. This allows the player to be a few feet away from the microphone and still use voice controls.

A further look at the technical specifications for Kinect reveal that both the video and depth sensor cameras have a 640 x 480-pixel resolution and run at 30 FPS (frames per second). The specifications also suggest that you should allow about 6 feet (1.8 meters) of play space between you and the Kinect sensor, though this could vary depending on where you put the sensor [source: Microsoft Store].

The Kinect hardware, though, would be nothing without the breakthrough software that makes use of the data it gathers. Leap forward to the next page to read about the "brain" behind the camera lens.

The Kinect software goes a step further than just detecting and reacting to what it can "see." Kinect can also distinguish players and their movements even if they're partially hidden. Kinect extrapolates what the rest of your body is doing as long as it can detect some parts of it. This allows players to jump in front of each other during a game or to stand behind pieces of furniture in the room.

Something For Everyone

Whether you're a gamer or not, anyone can play and have a blast. And with advanced parental controls and movies for the family, Kinect promises a gaming experience that's safe, secure and fun for everyone.

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