Microsoft will release a Kinect software development kit for Windows this spring and it will be a non-commercial release, developed for academic research and enthusiast communities to create even richer experiences using Kinect technology…….
Microsoft will be releasing the Kinect for Windows SDK starter kit this spring to make it simpler for the academic research and enthusiast communities to create rich natural user interfaces using the motion-sensing device.The community that has blossomed since the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360 in November shows the breadth of invention and depth of imagination possible when people have access to ground-breaking technology. Already, researchers, academics and enthusiasts are thinking through what’s next in natural and intuitive technology. For example, in January I mentioned Craig’s talk at the Cleveland Clinic where he highlighted students at the University of Washington’s Biorobotics Lab using Kinect with a commercially available PHANTOM Omni Haptic Device to explore how robotic surgery could be enhanced by incorporating the sense of feel.
The Kinect for Windows SDK is being developed and released by Microsoft Research (MSR) in collaboration with IEB. It will be available this spring as a free download and will give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to key pieces of the Kinect system—such as the audio technology, system application programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself.Supporting this community and enabling creativity around natural user interfaces (NUI) is important to us, and our hope is that this SDK will ignite further creativity in an already vibrant ecosystem of enthusiasts. We are very excited by this announcement. Not only does it showcase our investment in this important technology trend, but it ensures that people have the tools they desire to revolutionize how people interact with technology.
Microsoft says that the non-commercial SDK will give users access to deep Kinect system information such as audio, system application-programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor.Kinect has already been hacked to work with Mac OS X and with Windows PCs and Microsoft has already said that an official Windows version was on its way.Natural and intuitive technologies such as Kinect can be more than just a great platform for gaming and entertainment. They open up enormous opportunities across a wide variety of scenarios, including addressing societal issues in areas such as healthcare and education.
Sources :blogs.technet.com,theregister.co.uk
