We might all be flailing wildly at our laptops to open documents soon as at least two prototype Asus laptops exist that incorporate Microsoft Kinect sensors.
The Daily was lucky enough to snag some time with what a Microsoft insider confirmed were two official Microsoft prototypes running Windows 8.
The gesture control sensors sit where the webcam would normally be (in the centre of the panel above the screen), with what looked to The Daily like LEDs beneath the display.
The Daily Flail
Unfortunately the Murdoch-owned iPad newspaper didn’t manage to grab any pictures nor use the gesture control, but it does seem to confirm that we’ll see Kinect functionality baked into portable hardware at some point in the near future.
Kinect is already compatible with Windows, with the necessary hardware being released in February 2012 after developers were given access to the SDK late last year.
The motion-sensing peripherals have been a massive success for Microsoft on the Xbox 360, bagging well over 10 million sales and a T3 Gadget of the Year award to boot.
Microsoft has announced a Kinect for PC – with a much shorter focal range solving the biggest problem with implementing the motion and voice sensor for the desktop.
Although Microsoft has been working hard convincing developers to turn the Kinect more than a games peripheral, the current version is not useful for close objects.
Microsoft has now announced that it is launching a Kinect for PC in early 2012.
"Since announcing a few weeks ago that the Kinect for Windows commercial program will launch in early 2012, we’ve been asked whether there will also be new Kinect hardware especially for Windows," blogged general manager Craig Eisner.
"The answer is yes; building on the existing Kinect for Xbox 360 device, we have optimized certain hardware components and made firmware adjustments which better enable PC-centric scenarios.
Upgrades
"Coupled with the numerous upgrades and improvements our team is making to the Software Development Kit (SDK) and runtime, the new hardware delivers features and functionality that Windows developers and Microsoft customers have been asking for.
"Simple changes include shortening the USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers and the inclusion of a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals.
"Of particular interest to developers will be the new firmware which enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimetres in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision, with graceful degradation down to 40 centimetres.
"Near Mode" will enable a whole new class of "close up" applications, beyond the living room scenarios for Kinect for Xbox 360.
"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, and more, at launch."
This is a significant moment for Kinect – which has proven to massively popular as a peripheral for the Xbox and still has bags of untapped potential.
Microsoft has always been aware that Kinect has desktop applications, and the arrival of "near mode" could really fire up a whole raft of cool applications.
Excel by gesture anyone?
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Microsoft has indicated that it will celebrate the first birthday of Kinect by announcing the Kinect for Windows commercial program will launch early next year.
The Kinect for Windows commercial program is intended to give businesses the means to develop tools with the motion sensor that can hand them an advantage.
"The commercial program will give businesses the tools to develop applications that not only could improve their own operations, but potentially revolutionise entire industries," explained Microsoft’s release.
"To date, more than 200 businesses worldwide – including Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Razorfish – have joined a Kinect for Windows pilot program to begin exploring the possibilities of Kinect.
"While no one knows what the future holds, if the past year is any indication, it’s going to be inspiring."
Potential
The potential for Kinect has always been a focus of Microsoft’s – and the cool elements of a voice and motion sensor are clear.
Microsoft, in typical fashion, is keen to build an ecosystem for its product, which shattered consumer electronics records when it arrived for the Xbox 360.
"Six months ago, a diverse group of hobbyists and academics from around the world embraced the possibilities of Kinect," added Microsoft.
"In a wave of creativity, they downloaded the Microsoft Kinect for Windows SDK and began developing creative applications and innovative uses in healthcare, education, art and so much more.
"Microsoft has recognised this phenomenon as "The Kinect Effect."
It will be intriguing to see what the tool set handed out to businesses is, and just what they can do with a sensor that can pick out individual limbs and also listen out for instructions.
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