Kinect mit CryEngine3

High-Quality Open Source Body Tracking Sans Kinect

Draw a bounding box around an object in the camera’s field of view and Zdenek Kalal’s open source Predator algorithm will continuously track it in real-time with just a standard webcam. That’s right, get Kinect-like body tracking without the fancy hardware. With all those front-facing cameras out there, just think of the mobile applications! Minority Report-style HCI, face tracking, improved visual search, and video stabilization are a few examples. [via /.]

Is Microsoft About To Let Kinect Play Nice With Windows?

With hackers showing the world what Kinect is truly capable of, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft decided to release its own, official PC support for the Xbox 360's motion sensing camera.

PC gossip site WinRumors reckons that Microsoft "is currently preparing an official Kinect SDK and driver support for Windows based PCs", meaning that instead of having to mess around with code to get Kinect working on your PC, you'd just need to download the official drivers and go from there.

It's also claimed that Microsoft will be promoting the use of Kinect on PC with third parties, which will hopefully not just lead to loads of exciting new ways to interact with your computer, but to official Kinect games on the PC as well.

Microsoft preparing official Kinect drivers and SDK for Windows [WinRumors]

Send an email to the author of this post at plunkett@kotaku.com.

Kinect Hacks: Quick-time gestures with Indigo Prophecy

Kinect modder extraordinaire Jack Schofield's latest gesture-based infusion of a gaming classic is so obvious, we're a little upset we didn't think of it first: David Cage's original QTE-filled piece of interactive drama, Indigo Prophecy. Check out a lengthy video demonstration below.


Source: YouTube user Demize2010
Via: Joystiq

Kinect-Controlled Gundam Mech Stands On Its Own One Foot [Video]

In the evolution of Kinect-controlled robotics, we've gone from a Roomba in November, to a robot moving its arms in December, now to one that may stand on one foot. We should be slaves to our robot overlords by May. More »

Showtime: Kinect Video Scratch

*Hard to believe we won’t be seeing plenty more of this. Installation artists, start your engines.
via @kinecthack

Kinect Video Scratch from vjdrmo on Vimeo.

Kinect Hacks: Build a monument to yourself in Minecraft

Behold, a singularity of internet phenomena! Nathan Viniconis has modded Kinect to capture images that are imported into Minecraft, creating gigantic monuments out of household objects. "Household objects?" Who are we kidding -- you're going to turn yourself into Mount Rushmore.

For a full breakdown of this super technical process, check out Viniconis' explanation on his website, Order of Events. Even if you don't grok the jargon, there's plenty of delightful images to take in, such as these: