Kinect Discussion

[Handshakes]

I'm with Neato in that the tech is interesting, except that I won't be buying it for anything more than $30. A price that I think it will achieve, based on how quickly the Live Vision Camera bombed and made it to the bargain bins.

[NeuroticSarge]

I've got a live vision camera-never use it.Only time it did get used was when I played Burnout Paradise for the pictures when I got taken/took someone down!

[DFUSIONITE]

I think kinect is better than the live vision camera, if they can advertise it right it should do well. I mean it's basically a wii with hd graphics and better tech, so if the wii is so popular why can't something thats even better do well? I know the price may be a sticking point but that will most likely get reduced after a short while.

[GamerMan316]

Kinect Patent Says It Can Read Sign Language



The patent for Microsoft's motion-sensing camera Kinect was released to the public last week, and while we knew most of the stuff contained within, I'd be lying if I said I knew the device could recognise sign language.

But it does. At least, according to the patent it does (things may have changed since, we're checking), as it says that thanks to Kinect's ability to track hand and arm gestures, it can understand somebody signing at it in American Sign Language, and then convert it to either text or spoken word.

A neat feature! It might be totally useless to most of you, but anything that can improve the accessibility of games - and do it as seamlessly as allowing someone to sign at their TV - is a welcome step forward nonetheless.

[GamerMan316]

250GB Kinect Bundle Spotted



Microsoft's controller-free Kinect platform is getting a 4GB bundle that comes with an Xbox 360, 4GB of memory, a Kinect sensor, a game and a controller. That doesn't look like the only bundle.

The Australian packaging for the 4GB bundle shows what appears to be a 250GB bundle that comes with a 250GB hard drive and a headset.

The console in the 4GB bundle has a matte finish, while the console for the 250GB bundle has a glossy finish.

The packaging for the 250GB also notes this, "Hard Drive includes game and demos."

Kotaku is following up with Microsoft.

[Failed]

sign language eh? then they could make a game/app to teach you sign language ... atleast Americaland Sign Language atleast.

[nCogNeato]

There was an interesting discussion in the xbox.com forums about the possibilities of adapting Kinect for "able" gamers.

There may not be a huge market for such a feature, but there is definitely a worthy market that is just waiting to profess their loyalty to the company that can offer them what every other company denies them.

Good on ya, Microsoft.

[Failed]

if you can sign language you can hold a pad ....

[GamerMan316]

Kinect Downgraded To Save Money, Can't Read Sign Language

The patent for Microsoft's motion-sensing camera Kinect suggested that the device could understand American Sign Language. Well, it can't. At least, the version going on sale in November can't.

Responding to the claims made in the patent, Microsoft has told Kotaku "We are excited about the potential of Kinect and its potential to impact gaming and entertainment. Microsoft files lots of patent applications to protect our intellectual property, not all of which are brought to market right away. Kinect that is shipping this holiday will not support sign language."

So why did the patent suggest it could? Well, sources close to the evolution of Kinect's development tell us it's because the version of the hardware that'll be available later this year isn't as capable as was originally intended.

The original Kinect had a much higher resolution (over twice that of the final model's 320x240), and as such, was able to not only recognise the limbs of a player as the current model version can, but their fingers as well (which the current version can't). And when the hardware could recognise fingers, it would have been able to read sign language.

But that capability came at a cost, and while Microsoft had always intended Kinect to sell for $150, "dumbing down" the camera would have meant that Microsoft wouldn't be losing as much money on each unit sold, an important point should Kinect prove to be a failure. So dumb it down they did, reducing the camera's resolution (which in turn reduced the number of appendages it'd have to track) and placing the burden for some of the device's processing on the console and not Kinect's own hardware.

This probably isn't the first time you've heard such a rumour, but this latest time at least explains why Kinect can't read sign language!

[nCogNeato]

Screw you, "abled" gamers.   

[GamerMan316]

Can the Playstation Eye already do what Kinect does?

[nCogNeato]

Can the Playstation Eye already do what Kinect does?

Interesting.  Although, the article is simply comparing hardware specs.  The hardward doesn't determine the device's capabilities, the software does.

I do think the PS Eye could do what Kinect does easily, if the player was wearing a mocap suit.  That's the whole appeal of Kinect.  It's mocap without a mocap suit.

[NeuroticSarge]

Here's a question.Is sign language the same in every country?
I mean,is the sign for thank you the same in the UK as in say,Russia?
Always wondered that.
Is it a universal language?If so,we should all learn it so we can tell the foreign idiots to feck off over my live cam!

[nCogNeato]

Here's a question.Is sign language the same in every country?
I mean,is the sign for thank you the same in the UK as in say,Russia?
Always wondered that.
Is it a universal language?If so,we should all learn it so we can tell the foreign idiots to feck off over my live cam!

There is an "International Sign" that's used as a sort of basic communication among most countries.  Stuff like "where is the bathroom?" and "hello / goodby".

But most languages have their own distinct sign language variant.  Most sign languages evolved within each culture the same way verbal language did.

[DFUSIONITE]

Here's a question.Is sign language the same in every country?
I mean,is the sign for thank you the same in the UK as in say,Russia?
Always wondered that.
Is it a universal language?If so,we should all learn it so we can tell the foreign idiots to feck off over my live cam!

There is an "International Sign" that's used as a sort of basic communication among most countries.  Stuff like "where is the bathroom?" and "hello / goodby".

But most languages have their own distinct sign language variant.  Most sign languages evolved within each culture the same way verbal language did.

Thanks Neatopedia