Kinect For Xbox 360 - A Hands Free New Way To Play Your Xbox Games!

Now, I don't know about you, but in my household we are slightly gaming mad! Over the years we have bought quite a few different consoles, Playstation, the small PSP, which is a hand held device that comes with loads of great games, and of course the Xbox. The original didn't really interest me that much, it was the rest of the family that used it. Then we bought the Xbox 360, and the graphics were so much better, we are always playing with it. I must admit to not having a great deal of patience with the hand control because I always tend to press the wrong buttons! So this new Kinect sensor that has only just hit the shops is great. I am already saving up to buy it.

What is it?

The Kinect sensor is software developed by Microsoft, using software technology. It has been combined with range camera technology, which can interpret 3D scene information using a continuously projected infrared pattern.

I looks a bit like a small DVD player on a stand. It is a slim bar which is connected to a small base. This is pivotal, which in plain English means that it can move around, up and down, to detect the movement of the person in front of it.

The best place to put it, is directly underneath the TV screen, so it can detect a wide range around the room.

How does it work?

The Kinect has a RGB camera, a depth sensor which is what is used to detect the person playing the game, and a microphone to detect voice commands. This is where the cool starts! Overall it provides a full body 3D motion capture, voice recognition and even more cool, facial recognition! Wow! I wonder how it will interpret my face when I'm screaming at the top of my voice! Which I tend to do when I get carried away playing all the great games!

The other clever thing about it, is it knows how to block out all the other annoying noises in the background, and just centre on your voice! Evidently the voice recognition capabilities will not be available in mainland Europe until 2011, but it will be in the U.S.A, Canada, Britain and Japan, right from the word go! Phew! thank goodness for that!

Without getting too technical, the clever little thing knows whether you have furniture, or anything else in it's way, and adjusts accordingly! Let me tell you, I am so impressed with the technology of today. What is coming next? A holo deck like in Star Trek? Hope so!

The good thing about this little gadget, is that it can detect up to six people, including the two main players at any given time. The best place is to stand approx 6ft away from the Kinetic sensor, but the range is even farther back than that. It can reach up to 11ft easily, and can even manage 20ft. Obviously most people won't stand that far back, so there shouldn't be any problem.

Buy the Package.

Of course, you can buy the Kinect sensor separately, and use your Xbox 360 that you already have. If you do use your old Xbox 360, you will need a special power supply cable. But don't worry, this will be sold with the Kinect. You just have to do a bit of juggling with the wires to make sure everything is fitted neatly into place.

But of course, Microsoft wouldn't just realise a really cool gadget like this without updating the Xbox 360. The new Xbox 360 S model comes with a special AUX port for fitting the connections, and the power is supplied by an adaptor to the mains.

Another good thing about the Kinect sensor is that if you use your Xbox 360 to talk to other gamers, using video, the Kinect will be able to track you, even if you are walking around the room flinging your arms about whilst talking!

The new games that can be played with the Kinect system will be in a box with a purple case, so you don't get them muddled with the normal Xbox 360 games.

The Kinect sensor when bought on it's own retails at £164.99 or $267.43. This is from Amazon. Other retailers may vary.

With the new Xbox 360 S it retails at £352.95 or $572.10 Also from Amazon.

You can dance, you can drive a car, and even better you can do your exercises without having to hang onto anything! This gives you so much more freedom to play. It is terrific! I don't think I have been this excited since the invention of the Internet! Ha!

Have Fun!