We suspect that many a Christmas/New Year’s party over the last couple of weeks was privvy to some embarrassing, drunken Kinect shenanigans – I know my holiday season wasn’t shy of a few ‘what’s up’ hands on Dance Central. But would the Kinect experience translate to PC? PrimaSense and Asus think so, and are putting their money where their proverbial mouth is.
Their device is called the WAVI Xtion, and is being produced by PrimaSense, the company that licensed Kinect’s tech to Microsoft.
“The WAVI Xtion media center for the PC leverages ultra-wide band wireless link and PrimeSense 3D sensing solution to provide controller-free interaction experiences in the living room. Users can browse multimedia content, access the Internet and social networks, and enjoy full body interaction in a more user-friendly and natural living room experience.”
Apparently the device is making its debut at CES, which is just about to kick off, and will go on sale in February this year.
Kinect hacks are already pretty ubiquitous, but how many of you would consider using gesture controls as part of the PC experience? It seems to me that it’s something that works better as part of a living room set-up – at least when it comes to gaming. Perhaps it might work well with PCs hooked up as media servers?
Would you guys consider using a Kinect-like device on your PC? How would you use it?
Kinect creator announces hands-free PC controller for living rooms [VG247]
thistler
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 9:44 AMI think it’d be best used for some sort of interactive art piece. I’ve seen some cool things done with webcams (that shadow monsters display was great http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8k3w7dzTFI&feature=related) and the addition of depth opens up a whole world of possibilities. Very excited to play around with something like this.
Shane
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 9:53 AMDude, the idea of a virtual keyboard is so exciting!
James Mac
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 11:30 AMBehold:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/8193/
Pacifism
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:08 AMAs long as we don’t have to stand 2.4m away like the stupid Kinect.
Michael Barnes
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 11:32 AMThis. I couldn’t even play Kinect in my room. Gave it to my little sisters. Our lounge room is huge but we still have to move the damn couch to use it. I mean I understand that the camera needs room so it can see us but its still ridiculous.
Blackwater
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 2:07 PMI play it in a relatively small space, works fine for me
Michael Barnes
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 10:23 AMLooks like Kinects retarded brother.
Grandmaster B-Funk
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 11:35 AMi don’t think i’d use it for everyday use for the computer, but i can see it as a good use for a media center, but i’d rather just buy a kinect and use the hacks to control my PC, makes more sense then buying something that only works on PC
Thooperman
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 12:15 PMI would like to see an automatic Keyboard and Mouse switcher between two computers that detects which monitor you are looking at.
Adrian Tollis
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 2:42 PMThats a good idea, i think there could be quite a few usefull interface applications using accurate eye tracking.
Daniel Harkin
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 12:29 PMI don’t care who makes one I just want to see the kinect pitched at the hardcore games. It would be interesting to see how that would go.
weresmurf
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 1:39 PMInteracting with porn on your PC will never be the same again!!!
thyco
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 2:49 PMWhile theres the obvious porn stuff, a Motion Sensor device for PC games could be great with alot of the great PC only games. Games like the Arma Series and X series could get alot of use out not just a motion sensor device, but also voice recognition as well. Hell i reckcon the good old RTS genre would be perfect for it.
Imagine playing SC2 or any other RTS like the promo for R.U.S.E.
Lichbane
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:04 PMHead Tracking … just like the TrackIR, but without the silly reflective patches for your hat/headphones.