The Technology Behind The Xbox Kinect

The Microsoft Xbox Kinect has been making waves ever since it was in the project stage. It was earlier known as Project Natal, and has come far from the prototype stage and is all set to overpower living rooms everywhere. The Kinect is an amazing piece of technology that can do many, many things; but what’s really happening behind the scenes? Read on to find out.

The core of Kinect’s functionality is motion detection. It is one of the most advanced commercially available motion detection systems ever manufactured keeping mass distribution in mind. It comprises of 3 cameras, which are in fact RGB cameras serving as depth sensors as well.

The Depth sensor is in the form of an infrared projector, that when combined with the precise senor allows Kinect to “see” 3D images. The software behind Kinect is quite ingenious, and allows it to be calibrated according to any needs imaginable, thus ensuring that Kinect will work in almost any scenarios.

For instance, since Kinect is a piece of motion detection software, barriers such as furniture can often be a problem; but since it is designed to be a neat, seamless part of your living room, it wouldn’t make sense to have to move your furniture out of the way. So the Xbox Kinect software that Microsoft coded can adjust itself accordingly.

Though the hardware of Xbox Kinect is quite impressive, it’s the software that really sets it apart. Not only is it capable of picking up on 3D objects, Microsoft built in state of the art gesture, facial and voice recognition. What’s even more impressive is that it can do all this for up to six people at the same time. With so many features and an impressive games list to boot, Kinect looks all set to become the future of gaming, and is bound to revolutionize human interaction as we know it.