Kinect Functionality Coming to Windows 8 Laptops

[fitbabits]

First of all, I really like my Kinect. I don't play (with) it as much as I would like due to time constraints, etc., but I am very excited about the future possibilities of the technology.

Gesture-based navigation is spreading fast and it's popularity and integration into daily life is set to increase in much the same way that the Wii popularized motion control with the Wii.

It's no surprise, then, that Microsoft is looking to build Kinect sensor technology into Windows 8 laptops.

The Daily got a sneak peek at two Microsoft-developed Windows 8 notebook prototypes with built-in Kinect sensors. The system would allow for gesture recognition in portable devices for the first time. The prototypes "appear to be Asus netbooks" and "feature an array of small sensors stretching over the top of the screen where the webcam would normally be," The Daily reported.

3-D gesture control on a laptop could offer more interactive, Kinect-style PC gaming, as well as new computer interfaces and ways to control one's notebook.

----------

Although Microsoft popularized it, the 3-D gesture recognition space is rapidly becoming a hot area of innovation.

Another company, SoftKinetic, is working on similar technology aimed at the notebook market. Using a different technology than what the Kinect currently incorporates, the SoftKinetic system can sense motion as close as 5.9 inches away.

Source - WIRED (CNN)

[Serapth]

Maybe mines broken or something, but every thing I try to navigate with my Kinect is simply a source of irritation. The menu, netflix, most game UIs. It's often easier/faster/better to just pick up my remote or a controller.


Its fun for games, but not so much navigation.

[Narradisall]

That's why you need to be lazy and say "Xbox. Netflicks. No, NETFLICKS. NO NOT SEX PICS! WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME EVERYTIME WE HAVE COMPANY ROUND!"

[Yeti2005]

I could see this being useful in presentations (laptop in front of you with a projector) but otherwise I have no idea what they would do with this.

[Entropy]

Originally Posted by Yeti2005

I could see this being useful in presentations (laptop in front of you with a projector) but otherwise I have no idea what they would do with this.

Pretty much any gesture you do with a tablet you could do with this. Instead of using the mouse to switch between pages, songs or images you could swipe your hand in the air. Or pinch or expand you fingers to shrink and enlarge things. Basically like Minority Report.

Sounds fucking awesome.

[MagGnome]

Or you could use a mouse...which is fast and accurate. I guess this could have some uses, but the mouse and trackpad aren't going anywhere anytime soon, especially for PC gaming.

[fitbabits]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

Or you could use a mouse...which is fast and accurate. I guess this could have some uses, but the mouse and trackpad aren't going anywhere anytime soon, especially for PC gaming.

It likely won't be used for so-called 'twitch' gaming.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by fitbabits

It likely won't be used for so-called 'twitch' gaming.

Anytime I hear people talking about the next great PC game... no one ever talks about using laptops. When people say they built their own rig I'm doubting they built their own laptop.

This will be for Powerpoint presentations.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by fitbabits

It likely won't be used for so-called 'twitch' gaming.

I wouldn't describe the games I enjoy as "twitch", but I can't imagine playing any of them with Kinect, either. This will be for casual and party games, the latter of which don't work well on laptops.

[Serapth]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

Anytime I hear people talking about the next great PC game... no one ever talks about using laptops. When people say they built their own rig I'm doubting they built their own laptop.

This will be for Powerpoint presentations.

I game on my laptop, which is as powerful or more so than the average gamers rig. Granted, not an SLI setup by any means, but thems the breaks for portability. It still plays every game I've thrown at it, at highest settings at 1080p, so....

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

Anytime I hear people talking about the next great PC game... no one ever talks about using laptops. When people say they built their own rig I'm doubting they built their own laptop.

This will be for Powerpoint presentations.

Actually gaming on a laptop is increasingly popular. I have several friends who game on laptops. Get a decent graphics card and you can play pretty much anything.

[Gorvi]

So people are going to be standing in front of their 17" laptops waving their arms around? I'd imagine that the majority of laptop users are sitting directly in front of them, using gestures to control anything sounds awkward at best.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Serapth

I game on my laptop, which is as powerful or more so than the average gamers rig. Granted, not an SLI setup by any means, but thems the breaks for portability. It still plays every game I've thrown at it, at highest settings at 1080p, so....

How big is this laptop though and how much did it cost? I guess it all depends on what games you are throwing.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

How big is this laptop though and how much did it cost? I guess it all depends on what games you are throwing.

You can buy a $500-$600 laptop that will run damn near anything you throw at it. Of course, it won't always be at the highest settings, but the days of needing a $1500 laptop to do any gaming are long gone. I'm looking at getting one myself around tax time. I'm budgeting about $700 for it only because I want something that powerful.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

I would describe the games I enjoy as "twitch", but I can't imagine playing any of them with Kinect, either. This will be for casual and party games, the latter of which don't work well on laptops.

This has almost nothing to do with gaming. I'm sure there will be some games for it but it won't be the devices primary purpose.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

You can buy a $500-$600 laptop that will run damn near anything you throw at it. Of course, it won't always be at the highest settings, but the days of needing a $1500 laptop to do any gaming are long gone. I'm looking at getting one myself around tax time. I'm budgeting about $700 for it only because I want something that powerful.

Again, what is the size? A laptop is worthless if it is the size of a desktop and those were the only ones I've seen previously.

Originally Posted by Gorvi

So people are going to be standing in front of their 17" laptops waving their arms around? I'd imagine that the majority of laptop users are sitting directly in front of them, using gestures to control anything sounds awkward at best.

You guys don't give very many business meeting presentations I take it.

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

So people are going to be standing in front of their 17" laptops waving their arms around? I'd imagine that the majority of laptop users are sitting directly in front of them, using gestures to control anything sounds awkward at best.

Obligatory.

[Grifter]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

You can buy a $500-$600 laptop that will run damn near anything you throw at it. Of course, it won't always be at the highest settings, but the days of needing a $1500 laptop to do any gaming are long gone. I'm looking at getting one myself around tax time. I'm budgeting about $700 for it only because I want something that powerful.

Not quite, a couple years ago you could scrape by at about $600 for a decent gaming laptop (Asus had some killer systems around $600/$700) but prices have gone up quite a bit in the last year or so. A similar specced $600 laptop in 2010 now costs $800+. I buy a few laptops a year (for clients and whatnot) and I've been consistently surprised with the increased prices of gaming capable (not gaming intended) laptops.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

Again, what is the size? A laptop is worthless if it is the size of a desktop and those were the only ones I've seen previously.

That's up to the buyer, they're made in a variety of sizes. I can't believe I just had to type that.

You guys don't give very many business meeting presentations I take it.

I give plenty, I'm prepping for one Wednesday as a matter of fact.

[Gorvi]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

Obligatory.

I'm not sure I see the connection, that's not a 17" display.

Originally Posted by Grifter

Not quite, a couple years ago you could scrape by at about $600 for a decent gaming laptop (Asus had some killer systems around $600/$700) but prices have gone up quite a bit in the last year or so. A similar specced $600 laptop in 2010 now costs $800+. I buy a few laptops a year (for clients and whatnot) and I've been consistently surprised with the increased prices of gaming capable (not gaming intended) laptops.

Do you mean at retail or shopping for sales? I was seeing some pretty nice deals a month or so ago when I started browsing.