Kinect
Kinect for Xbox 360 logo | |
---|---|
![]() Kinect sensor device | |
Product family | Xbox |
Generation | Seventh generation era |
Platform | Xbox 360 |
Connectivity | USB 2.0 (type-A for original model; proprietary for Xbox 360 S) |
Predecessor | Xbox Live Vision |
Kinect for Xbox 360[5], or simply Kinect (originally known by the code name Project Natal[5] (Template:Pron-en nə-TAHL)), is a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game platform, and may later be supported by PCs via Windows 8[6]. Based around a webcam-style add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller through a natural user interface using gestures, spoken commands,[7] or presented objects and images. The project is aimed at broadening the Xbox 360's audience beyond its typical gamer base.[8] It will compete with the Wii Remote with Wii MotionPlus and PlayStation Move motion control systems for the Wii and PlayStation 3 home consoles, respectively.
Kinect is scheduled to launch worldwide starting with North America on November 4, 2010,[5] followed by Europe on November 10[2], Australia and New Zealand and Singapore on November 18[9][3][10], and Japan on November 20[11]. Purchase options for the sensor peripheral will include a bundle with the game Kinect Adventures and console bundles with either a 4 GB[12][13][14] or 250 GB[15] Xbox 360 console and Kinect Adventures.[12][13][14][15]
Technology
The Kinect sensor[7] is a horizontal bar connected to a small base with a motorized pivot, and is designed to be positioned lengthwise below the video display. The device features an "RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone running proprietary software",[16] which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities. Voice recognition capabilities will be available in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States at launch, but have been postponed until spring 2011 in mainland Europe and Canada.[17] The Kinect sensor's microphone array enables the Xbox 360 to conduct acoustic source localization and ambient noise suppression, allowing for things such as headset-free party chat over Xbox Live.[7]
The depth sensor consists of an infrared projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor, and allows the Kinect sensor to see in 3D under any ambient light conditions.[7][18] The sensing range of the depth sensor is adjustable, with the Kinect software capable of automatically calibrating the sensor based on gameplay and the player's physical environment, such as the presence of furniture.[19]
Kinect is based on software technology developed internally by Microsoft and range camera technology by Israeli developer PrimeSense, which interprets 3D scene information from a continuously-projected infrared pattern.[20][21]
Described by Microsoft personnel as the primary innovation of Kinect,[22][23][24][25] the software technology enables advanced gesture recognition, facial recognition, and voice recognition.[26] According to information supplied to retailers, the Kinect is capable of simultaneously tracking up to six people, including two active players for motion analysis with a feature extraction of 20 joints per player.[27]
According to information supplied to retailers, the Kinect sensor outputs video at a frame rate of 30 Hz, with the RGB video stream at 32-bit color VGA resolution (640×480 pixels), and the monochrome video stream used for depth sensing at 16-bit QVGA resolution (320×240 pixels with 65,536 levels of sensitivity). The Kinect sensor has a practical ranging limit of 1.2–3.5 metres (3.9–11.5 ft) distance. The sensor has an angular field of view of 57° horizontally and a 43° vertically, while the motorized pivot is capable of tilting the sensor as much as 27° either up or down. The microphone array features four microphone capsules,[28] and operates with each channel processing 16-bit audio at a sampling rate of 16 kHz.[27]
Because the Kinect sensor's motorized tilt mechanism requires more power than can be supplied via the Xbox 360's USB ports,[29] the Kinect sensor features a proprietary connector combining USB communication with additional power. Redesigned "Xbox 360 S" models include a special AUX port for accommodating the connector,[30] while older models require a special power supply cable (included with the sensor[28]) which splits the connection into separate USB and power connections; power is supplied from the mains by way of an AC adapter.[29]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Kinect_Holiday_2010.jpg/220px-Kinect_Holiday_2010.jpg)
Kinect was first announced on June 1, 2009 at E3 2009 under the code name "Project Natal". Following in Microsoft's tradition of using cities as code names,[7] "Project Natal" was named after the Brazilian city of Natal as a tribute to the country by Microsoft director Alex Kipman, who incubated the project,[31] and who is from Brazil.[7] The name Natal was also chosen because the word natal means "of or relating to birth", reflecting Microsoft's view of the project as "the birth of the next generation of home entertainment".[23] At the E3 announcement, Microsoft said that over one thousand software development kits began shipping to game developers that same day.[1]
Three demos were shown to showcase Kinect when it was revealed at Microsoft's E3 2009 Media Briefing: Ricochet, Paint Party and Milo & Kate.[32] A demo based on Burnout Paradise was also shown outside of Microsoft's media briefing. The skeletal mapping technology shown at E3 2009 was capable of simultaneously tracking four people,[23][18][26][31] with a feature extraction of 48 skeletal points on a human body at 30 Hz.[19][31]
It was rumored that the launch of Project Natal would be accompanied with the release of a new Xbox 360 console (as either a new retail configuration,[33][34] a significant design revision[35] and/or a modest hardware upgrade[36]). Microsoft dismissed the reports in public, and repeatedly emphasized that Project Natal would be fully compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles. Microsoft indicated that the company considers it to be a significant initiative, as fundamental to the Xbox brand as Xbox Live,[23] and with a launch akin to that of a new Xbox console platform.[37] Kinect was even referred to as a "new Xbox" by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at a speech for the Executives' Club of Chicago.[38][39] When asked if the introduction will extend the time before the next-generation console platform is launched (historically about 5 years between platforms),[40] Microsoft corporate vice president Shane Kim reaffirmed that the company believes that the life cycle of the Xbox 360 will last through 2015 (10 years).[23]
During Kinect's development, project team members experimentally adapted numerous games to Kinect-based control schemes to help evaluate usability. Among these game were Beautiful Katamari and Space Invaders Extreme, which were demonstrated at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2009.[41] According to creative director Kudo Tsunoda, adding Kinect-based control to pre-existing games would involve significant code alterations, making it unlikely for Kinect features to be added through software updates.[42]
Although the sensor unit was originally planned to contain a microprocessor that would perform operations such as the system's skeletal mapping, it was revealed in January 2010 that the sensor would no longer feature a dedicated processor. Instead processing would be handled by one of the processor cores of the Xbox 360's Xenon CPU.[43] According to Alex Kipman, the Kinect system consumes about 10-15% of the Xbox 360's computing resources.[44] A number of observers commented that the computational load required for Kinect makes the addition of Kinect functionality to pre-existing games through software updates even less likely, with Kinect-specific concepts instead likely to be the focus for developers using the platform.[43]
On March 25, Microsoft sent out a save the date flier for an event called the "World Premiere 'Project Natal' for the Xbox 360 Experience" at E3 2010. The event took place on the evening of Sunday, June 13, 2010 at the Galen Center.[45] The event featured a performance by Cirque du Soleil. It was announced that the system would officially be called Kinect, a portmanteau of the words "kinetic" and "connect", which describe key aspects of the initiative.[46] Microsoft also announced that the North American launch date for Kinect will be November 4, 2010.[47] Despite previous statements dismissing speculation of a new Xbox 360 to accompany the launch of new control system, Microsoft announced at E3 2010 that it was introducing a redesigned Xbox 360, complete with a Kinect-ready connector port. In addition, on July 20, 2010, Microsoft announced a Kinect bundle with a redesigned Xbox 360, to be available with the Kinect launch.[14]
Launch
Microsoft has an advertising budget of US$500 million for the launch of Kinect, a larger sum than the investment at launch of the Xbox console.[48] Plans involve featuring Kinect on the YouTube homepage, advertisements on Disney's and Nickelodeon's digital publications as well as during Dancing with the Stars and Glee. Print ads are to be published in People Magazine and InStyle, while brands such Pepsi, Kellogg's and Burger King will also carry Kinect advertisements.[48] A major Kinect event is also being organized in Times Square, where Kinect will also be plugged via billboards.[48]
On October 19th, before the Kinect launch, Microsoft advertised Kinect at The Oprah Winfrey Show by giving free Xbox 360's and Kinect sensors to the people who were in the audience of Oprah.[49]
Software
Requiring at least 190 MB of available storage space,[50] the Kinect system software allows users to operate the Xbox 360 Dashboard console user interface using voice commands and hand gestures. Techniques such as voice recognition and facial recognition are used for automatically identifying users. Among the applications for Kinect is Video Kinect, which uses Kinect for conducting voice chat or video chat with Windows Live Messenger users or other Xbox 360 users. The application can use Kinect's tracking functionality and the Kinect sensor's motorized pivot to adjust the camera so that the user is kept in frame even when moving. Other applications promoted with Kinect include ESPN on Xbox 360, and Zune on Xbox Live.[50]
Games which can only be played with Kinect will feature a purple case and a purple wave next to the green waves on the header for the boxart, with on top "Kinect" in white letters.[51] Those games which require Kinect will also have a purple "sticker" on it showing a white silhouette of the Kinect sensor, and underneath it "Requires Kinect Sensor" also in white text.[51] Games which have Kinect support, but it's not nessicary to play the game, or when a game has optional Kinect minigames, the game will feature a standard green Xbox 360 case, but under the header there's a purple bar also showing a silhouette of the Kinect sensor, and "Better With Kinect Sensor" next to it in white text.[52]
As of September 2009[update], third-party publishers confirmed by Microsoft to be working on future Kinect titles include Activision Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks, Capcom, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Konami, MTV Games, Namco Bandai, SEGA, Square Enix, THQ Inc. and Ubisoft.[53] 16 launch titles for Kinect have been announced, along with several other titles which have been confirmed to support the technology.[54]
See also
- PlayStation Move
- PlayStation Eye
- EyeToy
- Dreameye
- Wii Remote
- Motion capture
- Structured-light 3D scanner
References
- ^ a b "Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect Launches November 4". Gizmodo.
- ^ a b "Kinect gets UK release date". BBC. Retrieved 2010-17-8.
It will hit the shelves on 10 November, five days after the US.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ a b "Xbox 360′s Kinect given release date for Australia". 01 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-03.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ "Microsoft to launch Kinect in Japan in November". The Economic Times. September 8, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Cirque du Soleil Experience Unveils Kinect for Xbox 360". Microsoft. 13 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-14.
On the eve of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Xbox made entertainment history through a stunning Cirque du Soleil production that brought controller-free gaming and entertainment to life and gave "Project Natal" its real name: Kinect for Xbox 360.
- ^ ""Microsoft Windows 8 Features Leaked"".
- ^ a b c d e f ""Project Natal" 101". Microsoft. 2009-06-01. Archived from the original on 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ^ Pham, Alex (2009-06-01). "E3: Microsoft shows off gesture control technology for Xbox 360". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
The effort aims to attract a broader audience to Microsoft's console. Most of the 30 million Xbox 360s sold since November 2005 have been snapped up by avid young males drawn to complex shooter or adventure games such as Halo and Modern Warfare or R.P.Gs
- ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/1085935/1/.html |title=Kinect launches Nov 18 with StarHub tie-up
- ^ "New Zealand Kinect Launch Date confirmed!". 17 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ "Xbox Kinect Japanese launch date". 14 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ a b "New Xbox 360, Kinect Sensor and "Kinect Adventures" — Get All Your Controller-Free Entertainment in One Complete Package". Redmond, Washington: Microsoft. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ a b "New Xbox 360, Kinect Sensor and Kinect Adventures — Get All Your Controller-Free Entertainment in One Complete Package". London: Microsoft. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
- ^ a b c Boyd, Graeme (2010-07-20). "Kinect bundled with slim 4GB Xbox 360 Arcade for $300, new console for $200 in August". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2010-07-20. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
Euro prices are 149.99 Euro for the camera + Kinect Adventures, 299.99 Euro for the 4GB console bundle.
{{cite web}}
: More than one of|author=
and|last=
specified (help) - ^ a b Purchese, Robert (September 8, 2010). "£300 Kinect 250GB bundle confirmed". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "Natal Recognizes 31 Body Parts, Uses Tenth of Xbox 360 "Computing Resources"".
- ^ "Microsoft: Kinect doesn't listen in mainland Europe and Canada till spring". 1 September 2010.
- ^ a b Totilo, Stephen (2009-06-05). "Microsoft: Project Natal Can Support Multiple Players, See Fingers". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ a b Wilson, Mark; Buchanan, Matt (2009-06-03). "Testing Project Natal: We Touched the Intangible". Gizmodo. Gawker Media. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (2009-09-05), "How many vendors does it take to make Microsoft's Project Natal game control system?", Venture Beat, retrieved 2010-01-08
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Press, MS (2010-03-31). "PrimeSense Supplies 3-D-Sensing Technology to Project Natal for Xbox 360". MsPress. p. MsPress. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ "Project Natal in detail". Microsoft. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
Proprietary software at the heart of "Project Natal" is what makes the magic possible. This is what distances "Project Natal" from any other technology on the market…
- ^ a b c d e Takaynigfjoigmndhhashi, Dean (2009-06-02). "Microsoft games exec details how Project Natal was born". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
The companies are doing a lot of great work with the cameras. But the magic is in the software. It's a combination of partners and our own software.
Cite error: The named reference "Shane Kim VB" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ Bramwell, Tom (2009-06-03). "E3: MS execs: Natal not derived from 3DV". Eurogamer. Eurogamer Network. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
- ^ Lee, Johnny (2009-06-01). "Project Natal". Procrastineering. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ a b Dudley, Brier (2009-06-03). "E3: New info on Microsoft's Natal -- how it works, multiplayer and PC versions". Brier Dudley's Blog. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
We actually built a software platform that was what we wanted to have as content creators. And then [asked], 'OK, are there hardware solutions out there that plug in?' But the amount of software and the quality of software are really the innovation in Natal.
- ^ a b "Play.com (UK) : Kinect : Xbox 360 - Free Delivery". Play.com. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
This information is based on specifications supplied by manufacturers and should be used for guidance only.
- ^ a b "Kinect for Xbox 360". Microsoft Store. Microsoft. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
Array of 4 microphones supporting single speaker voice recognition
{{cite web}}
: Text "Kinect for Xbox 360" ignored (help) - ^ a b "Project Natal & Its Instruction Manual(!) In The Wild". Kotaku. 2010-04-20.
{{cite web}}
: Text "accessdate-2010-05-27" ignored (help) - ^ "Original Xbox 360 requires separate power connection for Kinect". Joystiq. 2010-06-14.
{{cite web}}
: Text "accessdate-2010-06-14" ignored (help) - ^ a b c Gibson, Ellie (2009-06-05). "E3: Post-Natal Discussion". Eurogamer. Eurogamer Network. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
Essentially we do a 3D body scan of you. We graph 48 joints in your body and then those 48 joints are tracked in real-time, at 30 frames per second. So several for your head, shoulders, elbows, hands, feet...
- ^ "E3 2009: Microsoft Press Conference Live Blog". IGN. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
- ^ French, Michael (11 November 2009). "Natal launch details leak from secret Microsoft tour". MCV. Intent Media. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
November 2010 release, 5m units global ship, 14 games, and super-low sub-£50 price [...] Microsoft is planning to manufacture 5m units for day one release, with a mix of console and camera plus solus SKUs expected. [...] The device should cost under £100,00 when sold solo. The somewhat confirmed price is stated to be at 150$ (USD)when sold alone this is 50$ higher than the original 99$ projected price. [...] Another even says the camera could even retail for just £30.
- ^ Channell, Mike (2009-10-03). "Mark Rein Interview". Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine. Future Publishing. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
And you know, I think they said they were going to ship Natal with every Xbox when they actually launch the thing, so everybody will have one.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|separator=
(help) - ^ Brightman, James (21 August 2009). "Xbox 360 Slim? Analysts Weigh In". IndustryGamers. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ Kennedy, Sam (2009-06-12). "Rumor: Xbox Natal is Actually Microsoft's Next Console". 1UP.com. UGO Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
- ^ Graft, Kris; Sheffield, Brandon (2009-06-16). "Microsoft's Future Begins Now: Shane Kim Speaks". Gamasutra. Think Services. p. 3. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
{{cite web}}
: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=
(help) - ^ Gruener, Wolfgang (2009). "Ballmer announces 2010 Xbox 360 at The Executive Club Chicago". TG Daily. Chicago: Tigervision Media (published 2009-06-19). Retrieved 2009-06-19.
I am talking about the Global Leaders luncheon with Steve Ballmer yesterday in Chicago, during which the executive announced 'a new Xbox for 2010.' [...] I triple-checked with a few friends who were sitting in the audience as well and it seemed pretty clear to them that a new Xbox is coming in 2010, after what Ballmer had said.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ Reilly, Jim (2009-06-19). "Ballmer Clarifies His 'New' Xbox 360 Comment". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
I confused the issue with my poorly chosen words. There is no news in my comments. Things are as reported after E3. Sorry.
- ^ "Generation When?". Edge Online. Future plc. 2009-06-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
Since the NES, every five years or so a distinct new wave of technology has washed across the industry, bringing with it new power and functions to a market galvanised by the promise of faster, better, more.
- ^ Crecente, Brian (25 September 2009). "Playing Space Invaders, Katamari Damacy on Natal". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
- ^ Chester, Nick (25 September 2009). "TGS 09: Patching older 360 games to work with natal not possible". Destructoid. Retrieved 26 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ a b "Microsoft drops internal Natal chip".
- ^ "Microsoft's body-sensing, button-busting controller".
- ^ "Microsoft Planning Special Event for Project Natal on June 13th". 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
- ^ Toulouse, Stephen (2010-06-13). "What's in a name? Everything and nothing, depending". Stepto.com. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
- ^ Snider, Mike (2010-01-04). "Microsoft Kinect gets into motion as E3 confab kicks off". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- ^ a b c Atkinson, Claire (October 17, 2010). "Microsoft gears up for big launch of Kinect controller-free device for Xbox - NYPOST.com". New York Post. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
- ^ "Oprah Audience Explodes Into Hysterics Over Free Xbox Kinects". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ a b "Xbox.com: Kinect". Xbox.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
- ^ a b "Xbox.com: Kinect Games". Xbox.com. Microsoft. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
- ^ "Some Games Are "Better With Kinect", Others "Require" It News". TotalVideoGames. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
- ^ "Xbox 360's "Project Natal" Awakens Imagination of Global Video-Game Industry". Microsoft. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
- ^ "Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect Launches November 4". 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|published=
ignored (help)
External links
- Official website
- Project Natal on YouTube
- Kinect Playlist at the official YouTube Xbox channel