TheBolt

Released in 2010, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 peripheral, the Kinect changed the way we viewed controller-free gaming. While Nintendo and PlayStation were the first in the marketing with the Wii and PS Move, respectively, Microsoft’s Kinect blazed a trail of response and control unlike its predecessors.  Only one day after its release, the Kinect’s internal software was “hacked” and made available for developers to play with. We’ve seen several adaptations of the Kinect software, like its application in the operating room, but none will have the potential of the autism-detection development being done by The University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development in Minneapolis described in an article by Forbes. (more…)

The Microsoft Kinect broke the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest selling consumer electronics device.  Over 10 million since its launch, the Kinect has redefined video games.  Using your own body as the controller, the gamer’s hands, feet and head become buttons on an imaginary controller. If your character needs to kick, go and kick, if it needs to jump or punch, do the same!   So, congratulations to Microsoft for having this unique system “jump” ahead the competition.

Get your Microsoft Kinect at Abt!

Microsoft is planning on importing its Kinect technology to their Windows programming.  In an interview with BBC at CES 2011 last weekend, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer stated that Microsoft “will support that in a formal way in the right time.”  No word on specifically what time, but the technology will be used for easier web and menu navigation.  Full details can be found in Information Week’s article, “Kinect Technology Heading to PCs, TVs.”

It seems as if we are just years away from using the same technology as Tom Cruise did in the movie, “Minority Report.”

Image Courtesy of djtechtools.com

Microsoft recently released their Kinect to rave reviews and excited fans!  In just a few short weeks,  it has become an item that will be a must have for the holidays.  Why? Well, this is the first system that gets people up off the couch to play video games.  Wait, we have heard that one before.  Let me try again.  This is the first system to get people up off the couch to play video games without any controllers.

Yes, that is correct. You can now, bowl, play volleyball, race down rapids, play soccer, and much more on your Xbox360 without any controllers. When the game requires you to kick, just kick.  When you have to jump, jump!  This system is several years in the making, and many of us heard all the hype about this system, but after personally bowling a few frames and watching countless kids play soccer this past weekend, I would say that Kinect is solid and most importantly responsive.  Kinect comes both as a standalone camera system as well as a 4GB bundle, and finally a 250GB Bundle.

Happy Gaming!!

-Chad Taylor