It All started October 18th 1958 when a physicist debut his newest invention, an electronic tennis game with two separate controllers connected to an analog computer. Ok, I guess I could fast forward a few years and get to the real inspiration of Xbox Kinect.
It all started on November 19th 2006, when Nintendo launched the Wii. The Wii is a gaming console that uses wireless controllers to track your movements so that it can be relayed back to the console to move your avatar in the game. This was the first gaming console that actually made people get up off of their butts inside of their own home to play a game. It literally took the world by storm. In the U.S it broke records for most sold console in a single month. With that being said it is only natural that its competitors would try to match it or up the ante. In 2007 Don Mattrick, leader of the xbox business, challenged his x box team to expand gaming to a whole new set of customers by getting rid of the controller. A small team was put together to research this possibility. After a short while the team realized that the hardest challenge was going to create a device that tracked the user’s body as it moved.
Microsoft bought many 3d companies to try to solve this problem. Eventually with their vast technology they figured out thru math how to let a depth sensor track the body parts without getting confused by rapid movements. This was the break thru that they needed. The next obstacle to tackle was the use of voice recognition. This would be a very complicated process if Microsoft would have started from scratch, but they had been working on voice recognition for nearly over a decade.
With all of the technological questions answered, all that was lacking was the first game. They knew that Wii sports made the wii popular so they needed something similar, so they started working on Kinect Sports. Microsoft got to work and in 4 years from the first idea they released the Kinect. Inspired by the Wii but made with many other enhancements and without the Wii’s biggest flaw, a controller.
But What is The Kinect?
The Kinect itself is a bar that you place below or above your tv that has motorized pivot point that actually moves up and down to get the best angles. (everytime I start up my X box and it moves it still amazes me) Inside of the Kinect It has 3 main components. A microphone, a Rgb Camera, and a depth sensor. This allows the kinect to have voice recognition, full body 3d capturing, and even face recognition. With These 3 things it resulted in a new multi billion dollar business.
I don't actually own an XBOX but I have three brothers who do. Matter of fact, they have the XBOX, Playstation, Wii, and they even have a nintendo console (I like that one best)! Its just amazing the way video games have evolved. Personally, I like simple, my favorite game is Mario Bros, the very first one! Video games are now days are quite compicated and they are too smart. Although I feel this way about videos games, I must say, the Kinect is a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteUnlike the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 Kinect allows gamers to get a full body workout. One day possible, we will be able to physically walk around in a virtual world with this type of technology in the future. It would be cool on day if gamers could play Madden using Xbox Kinect or Play Station Move. Playing quarterback and calling altitudes from the line like Peyton Manning by using the voice recognition. Only problem with this technology is people will need to keep a first aid kit around.
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