14 DAY TRIAL // If you think that Kinect for Xbox 360 is just about games, think again. This NUI peripheral for Microsoft’s console can take experiences to an entire new level, offering something innovative and completely different, that rivals Sony and Wii simply cannot match at this point in time. The natural user interface sensor allows users to play games and control the console using their body as well as voice commands.
But the experiences made possible by Kinect for Xbox 360 reach far beyond gaming, as the video at the bottom of this article reveals.
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer demoed Avatar Kinect while on stage at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on January 5th, 2010.
Of course, the CEO used Kinect in order to transform himself into an Avatar while speaking to those attending the keynote.
“Everyone who is enjoying Kinect knows that today it listens to your voice, and tracks your body, but what about your facial expressions?
“Now Kinect can track features like your smile, your laugh, and even the raise of your eyebrows. Here's just a little taste of what's next on Kinect. We call it Avatar Kinect,” Ballmer revealed.
Essentially, Avatar Kinect is designed to breathe life into Xbox 360 Alter Egos, being capable to replicate complex movements as well as facial expressions.
“Maybe it's just me, but that Avatar was pretty darned bald I think. Face recognition, body tracking, now even facial expressions all coming to your living room. I'm pleased to announce that this spring Avatar Kinect will be made available for free to all Xbox LIVE Gold members,” Ballmer added.
Kinect for Xbox 360 proves to be a massive success for Microsoft, selling no less than 8 million units in just two months since it was introduced on the market.
By comparison, only 1.5 million Windows Phone 7 smartphones were pushed to customers in roughly the same period, although by any standards, there are far more phone users than there are Xbox 360 owners.