Here is video of researcher Tobias Blum demonstrating an Augmented Reality overlay which, using Kinect, shows a simulated "X-ray" image of a skeletal system underneath. Now, it isn't Tobias' skeleton but based on a dataset called Visible Korean Human. The researcher suggests that such a tool might be used to teach anatomy.
I don't want to sound like a broken record about this Kinect stuff, so I'll just comment on how this is more than a little bit creepy to me. At first, everything is just kinda silly as he moves around and the skeleton moves in response. But when he started bending at the waist, I have to admit that I got a little case of the jibblies.
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@Sexualchocolate: Yeah, but you'd look pretty dumb when you bend forward and the paper is two-dimensional.
I think it's too early to tell with Kinect when it comes to games. There's potential for a variety of applications as demonstrated by these sorts of homebrew pokes and prods into the potential, and some of those concepts will probably translate into interesting experiments in game mechanics and control if nothing else.
Move certainly looks more impressive from a so-called "core" gamer's standpoint and I think I made the right decision in the short-term, but it has to be pointed out that the foundations for that type of motion control were laid five years ago. While innovations have been made and Move barely resembles the Wii from a technological standpoint, its understandable that more titles exist that appeal to an audience already somewhat accustomed to a wand-based motion controller who can comfortably transition.
We were all excited for the Wii and then almost immediately disappointed by the final product. But the public embraced it due to good marketing and put the console into millions of homes. All of this looks a little too familiar. I don't anticipate Kinect being anywhere close to the success achieved by the Wii but maybe some of us (not you SC; We all know where you stand) have been a bit hasty in our assessment.
@Conrad Zimmerman
"We were all excited for the Wii and then almost immediately disappointed by the final product. But the public embraced it due to good marketing and put the console into millions of homes"
That is a half truth. It was the software that sold the masses on the idea of the Wii and motion controls.
Kinect and the Move are simply cash grabs to extend the life of two out of touch consoles.
I think it's a bit hasty to say it was solely marketing or software that pushed the Wii to where it is, but a perfect storm of several things:
1) The concept: a new way to play games that everyone can embrace
2) The marketing that effectively sold the concept
3) the software that effectively demonstrated the concept (namely, Wii Sports)
4) The low(er than normal/competition) price point
Quite frankly it was a Tour-de-Force of new product implementation.
Where Kinect has succeeded is in the first 3 points. Though the concept is similar to the Wii, it is not identical and does the same thing the Wii did when it came to market: Demonstrate yet another NEW way to interact with our games. Whatever argument one makes against how new the tech or the software truly is is irrelevant. It APPEARS and FEELS new to the masses, which is what matters in this case. The marketing has been very effective in selling this and the launch software, while not of interest to us hardcore gamers, proves the concept quite well.
Where the Kinect fails is on the 4th and final point, price. If you don't already own an Xbox 360, you're going to have to shell out some serious dough for a proper bundle. Ultimatley this hasn't hindered the Kinect to the point of preventing it from being a successful product, it will hinder it from becoming the "next" Wii.
It doesn't seem to match up very well and the frame rate is crappy.
I hope no one starts thinking the kinect is a DIY CATSCAN machine. I wonder if the IR emitters on kinect ever toss out a random X ray. You would need a DIY catscan at that point to monitor if you are getting cancer.
I don't think the Kinect could actually kill someone, but it does have the potential to set some people up for a Darwin Award. I can see some one strafing to hit a big red ball on screen as they shuffle right out the screen door and off the balcony.
My desperate hope is that developers are taking note of all the homebrew projects the community has produced. There are a wealth of brilliant mechanics out there, but someone with creative talent needs to bring them together into a game. If Kinect has anything, it's potential. Sadly, you can't play potential. However, if that potential is realized, there could be games with a level of immersion unlike anything we've seen before.
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Contest:
1:00 AM on 01.04.2011 | 
Still, kinect, looks awesome for nerds to mess around with and make cool shit out of....
... or for dancing?
Games? Not so much.
I wonder if the kid, whose mum I sold my Kinect to, had a good Christmas.....
I think it's too early to tell with Kinect when it comes to games. There's potential for a variety of applications as demonstrated by these sorts of homebrew pokes and prods into the potential, and some of those concepts will probably translate into interesting experiments in game mechanics and control if nothing else.
Move certainly looks more impressive from a so-called "core" gamer's standpoint and I think I made the right decision in the short-term, but it has to be pointed out that the foundations for that type of motion control were laid five years ago. While innovations have been made and Move barely resembles the Wii from a technological standpoint, its understandable that more titles exist that appeal to an audience already somewhat accustomed to a wand-based motion controller who can comfortably transition.
We were all excited for the Wii and then almost immediately disappointed by the final product. But the public embraced it due to good marketing and put the console into millions of homes. All of this looks a little too familiar. I don't anticipate Kinect being anywhere close to the success achieved by the Wii but maybe some of us (not you SC; We all know where you stand) have been a bit hasty in our assessment.
My personal assessment is a rolling one, it changes as details and information emerge. So far, on the kinect, it doesn't look good.
Move has also dropped off a bit recently, but there a list of cool games on their way, so things look more hopeful on that side.
Still, I've not touched my Move for a while, and i couldn't be bothered to even unpack my Kinect.
Motion Controls are nice, but they're by no means going to overtake or replace the controller.
"We were all excited for the Wii and then almost immediately disappointed by the final product. But the public embraced it due to good marketing and put the console into millions of homes"
That is a half truth. It was the software that sold the masses on the idea of the Wii and motion controls.
Kinect and the Move are simply cash grabs to extend the life of two out of touch consoles.
1) The concept: a new way to play games that everyone can embrace
2) The marketing that effectively sold the concept
3) the software that effectively demonstrated the concept (namely, Wii Sports)
4) The low(er than normal/competition) price point
Quite frankly it was a Tour-de-Force of new product implementation.
Where Kinect has succeeded is in the first 3 points. Though the concept is similar to the Wii, it is not identical and does the same thing the Wii did when it came to market: Demonstrate yet another NEW way to interact with our games. Whatever argument one makes against how new the tech or the software truly is is irrelevant. It APPEARS and FEELS new to the masses, which is what matters in this case. The marketing has been very effective in selling this and the launch software, while not of interest to us hardcore gamers, proves the concept quite well.
Where the Kinect fails is on the 4th and final point, price. If you don't already own an Xbox 360, you're going to have to shell out some serious dough for a proper bundle. Ultimatley this hasn't hindered the Kinect to the point of preventing it from being a successful product, it will hinder it from becoming the "next" Wii.
That means it's going to be pretty limited to the people who could use it, right? Those who are only a maximum of 5 feet tall.
I hope no one starts thinking the kinect is a DIY CATSCAN machine. I wonder if the IR emitters on kinect ever toss out a random X ray. You would need a DIY catscan at that point to monitor if you are getting cancer.
I don't think the Kinect could actually kill someone, but it does have the potential to set some people up for a Darwin Award. I can see some one strafing to hit a big red ball on screen as they shuffle right out the screen door and off the balcony.
That means it's going to be pretty limited to the people who could use it, right? Those who are only a maximum of 5 feet tall.
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They needed to use a short one, because there wasn't enough space to stand 8 feet away!
LOL.
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