Microsoft Working on Kinect Enabled Laptops
Microsoft apparently wants Kinect enabled hardware everywhere. A source close to The Daily, the iPad only magazine created by a collaboration between Apple and NewsCorp, told them that the company is trying to get Kinect sensors embedded in laptops, now.
Beyond the fact that the company is trying to get these things made, details are light. But you can expect that the sensors will be used less for grand hand gestures and more for facial tracking.
Right now, the prototypes "appear to be Asus netbooks running Windows 8," with their normal webcams replaced by a suite of Kinect sensor equipment. Because of the distance between you and the coputer, I can’t imagine these being aimed at general control. In addition, keyboards and mice are far more accurate than Kinect technology for interactions. Where the technology might get interesting is in the tracking of the face and facial features.
An early Nintendo Wii hack (by a hacker who now works at Microsoft, on the Kinect team) created a head tracking system. Then, in software, the screen’s display was changed to reflect the position of your head. Basically, the guy managed to achieve a 3D effect more compelling than most 3DTV’s on the market right now. A Kinect sensor can achieve the same effect without any hackery, and without any user intervention.
But beyond that, the Kinect could revolutionize games. The Kinect is capable of tracking facial expressions. Imagine tying your expressions to a computer game character in a massively multiplayer world. Along with voice chat, you would have an amazingly convincing face.
Of course, it is fully possible that this will never reach the market (remember the Courier?). Microsoft has a history of killing compelling ideas before they evr reach the market, largely because they are too niche. But personally I am holding out hope that these things end up in laptops everywhere.
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