The Evolution of the Xbox Kinect

Microsoft's Kinect, the latest in a long of line of Xbox 360 accessories, has met with overwhelming success in the months since its release. With 8 millions units sold in the first two months, it trumped the iPad as the fastest-selling electronic gadget of all time. Despite this, it has met with something of a mixed reception from the critical community... not because of any flaw in the device itself, but because of its somewhat limited game library. The original Xbox saw huge success because of its "killer app" Halo. So what is Kinect's killer app? What's going to convince the average gamer that this device is more than just an expensive EyeToy?

The answer is coming from a surprising source: the homebrew geek community, who have hacked Kinect and put it to all sorts of creative and revolutionary uses. By hooking up the Kinect to desktop PCs, netbooks and a variety of other computing devices via USB, they've found new and exciting ways to use Microsoft's 3D camera. For example, one enterprising geek created a 3D version of Tetris, where you manipulate the pieces with your hands and the camera perspective with your head. Other video games that have been adapted for Kinect by geeks are Minecraft, Mario Kart, and even Super Mario Brothers.

But it's not just classic video games that are receiving the royal treatment. One guy used Kinect to create an actual working air guitar! Just imagine a future version of Rock Band without the cheesy plastic instruments. Another used Kinect to add real-time lightsaber effects to his wooden sword, the dream of every Star Wars nerd. And the Kinect's infrared sensors make it a true three-dimensional camera, able to take pictures of an object or person at multiple angles. Geeks have used this ability to create 3D computer models of their rooms, furniture and everything.

But what about more practical applications? With a simple Kinect hack and a little bit of video editing magic, one geek used Kinect to erase himself from video footage in real-time... like he had become entirely invisible! Another used it as a sensory eye for his flying robot, giving it 3D vision far greater than that of any normal human. Could this seemingly innocuous video gaming device usher in a whole new era of robotics?

Microsoft has realized that the Kinect has endless potential, beyond anything they envisioned when they first created it. That's why there are rumors that they'll be adding official Kinect support to PCs and Macs in the upcoming months. And the geek community will be ready, with a whole new stable of impressive hacks that will change the way we interact with computers forever.

Robbie's a big fan of all things tech. Whether you're looking for desktop pcs or netbooks or you want to find the latest xbox 360 accessories; Robbie's the man!

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