14 DAY TRIAL // On February 1st, Microsoft made available for download the final release of Kinect for Windows SDK, complemented by the availability of commercially available hardware.
The release was meant to open new gates in the development of Windows applications that could take advantage of Hand Gestures and Voice Commands features that Kinect for Windows had to offer.
Today, the first results of this release are visible. One of them arrives in the form of a Windows 7 application aimed at enabling users to control a Media Center computer using only gesture and voice interactions.
The application, called Kinect for Media Center, comes from developer Brad Mauk, and relies heavily on the Kinect for Windows hardware.
Through it, users willing to pay $6.99 will be able to control both the Media Center interface, as well as add-ins that run within it, such as Netflix, MyMovies, Media Browser, and Heatwave.
According to the application’s developer, the application does not work with the Xbox 360.
However, the app does offer support for a wide range of hand gestures, as well as for a variety of voice controls.
These would include Hand Swipe Left, Right, Up, Down; Hand Swipe then Hold; Hand Tap; Hand Zoom (Hands moving away from each other); Hand Pinch (Hands moving closer to each other); Dominant Hand Hold; Secondary Hand Hold; and Wave.
Using voice, people will be able to perform basic Media Center actions, navigate, play artist or album, queue, and more.
Moreover, the app’s developer notes that he came up with a specific system that enables users to control the Media Center even when music is playing, as long as the volume is at a “reasonable” level.
Gesture and voice controls can also be turned off, provided that one would like to dance and sing around the room while listening to favorite artists.
Some more info on the new Kinect for Windows-based Kinect for Media Center application can be found on the developer’s website.