Microsoft Kinect laptops on the way?
Xbox 360 gaming tech Microsoft Kinect could soon be coming to the laptop, adding control-free gesture commands to portable computing, says a report.
One website claims to have seen a pair of prototypes using Microsoft Kinect sensors running on Asus netbooks with the latest Windows 8 operating system. Read on to hear how it could possibly work.
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The Daily had the chance to check out the laptops, that house an integrated version of Microsoft Kinect made possible by small sensors stretching over the top of the screen where a webcam would usually be.
While it may seem a little pie-in-the-sky, Microsoft has reportedly confirmed that these devices are prototypes featuring the Microsoft Kinect sensor. It won’t be the first time we’ve heard of computers and Kinect being used in conjunction, either. Microsoft has already confirmed Microsoft for Windows PC, due February 1st.
Microsoft Kinect gaming is the obvious possibility, but it is hoped that the controller-free motion sensor will be used for all sorts of hand-waving media controls for future portable devices. Rather than making its own Kinect portable devices, Microsoft is tipped to license the technology to other hardware manufacturers and laptop makers, such as Asus.
What do you think of Microsoft Kinect for laptops? Do we really need gesture control for our computers? Let us know your thoughts below.
User comments (4)
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Sam30 January 2012
This just reminds me of the bridge of the Heart of Gold from the first Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book, where Zaphod has to sit deadly still lest he triggered a gesture sensitive command. I can imagine this would be super useful for certain applications, but the average punter probably won't use it very often. Plus, the range at which you're using it might be an issue, especially for a laptop.
Report as inappropriateDom30 January 2012
This is pretty cool as a concept, but I can't see any real use for it at the moment. AFAIK, there is an add-on for the Kinect you can buy for about £20 (in GAME anyway) that reduces the working range to a "British-sized" living room (forgive the opinionyness). What would be good is an add-on for a student-sized room, so the operating range is around the 6ft mark.
Report as inappropriateMalcolm Roberts 30 January 2012
A minority Report film becomes a real life reality technology
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