Microsoft originally designed its Kinect controller as a way to play Xbox 360 games via gesture and spoken words, targeting the casual gamers who had made the Nintendo Wii such an enormous success. Launched last November, the device (shown below with the Xbox) features an RGB camera, a multi-array microphone, and an infrared depth sensor.
Microsoft's Kinect

In February, Microsoft noted that the "Kinect for Xbox 360 and the potential seen within its core technology have captured the imaginations of the academic research and enthusiast communities," and June 16 saw the release of a Kinect for Windows SDK (software development kit) beta. In September, Redmond followed up with a public beta of Robotics Developer Studio 4, software that allows the Kinect to act as the eyes and ears of robots.

While June's Kinect for Windows SDK includeed APIs, device interfaces, installer documents, and resource materials, its licensing terms explicitly aimed it at researchers and other non-commercial users. But now, Microsoft announced Oct. 31, commercial developers will be able to create Kinect-enabled apps, too.

The blog posting by Frank Shaw, Microsoft's vice president for corporate commuuncations, doesn't say whether a new SDK is planned, or just a change in licensing for the existing one. But, he writes, "To further fuel innovation and imagination, we will offer a Kinect for Windows commercial program early next year."

A Kinect-controlled medical imaging system
Source:Microsoft

According to Shaw, more than 200 applications have already been received for Microsoft's commercial pilot program for the Kinect. As an example of the type of software that will result, he cited a program (see above) that allows surgeons to scroll though medical images in an operating room using only gestures, avoiding the need to re-scrub.

Microsoft has signaled for some time that it intended to use advances in 3D sensing for products outside the gaming arena. In late 2010, it acquired Canesta, a maker of 3D-image sensor chips and camera modules that can be embedded in a variety of consumer products, including laptops and vehicle dashboards.

There is little question that within the next decade we will see natural user interfaces become common for input across all devices," Jim Spare, president and CEO of Canesta, wrote in an Oct. 29, 2010, statement posted on the startup's website. "With Microsoft's breadth of scope from enterprise to consumer products, market presence, and commitment to NUI, we are confident that our technology will see wide adoption across many applications that embody the full potential of the technology."

According to Microsoft Research, system requirements for those downloading June's Kinect for Windows SDK beta include a Kinect for Xbox 360 sensor; a computer with a dual-core, 2.66GHz (or faster) processor; a Windows 7-compatible graphics card with support for DirectX 9.0c capabilities, and 2GB of RAM. Required software includes Windows 7, Visual Studio 2010 Express (or other 2010 edition), and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0.

This promotional video showcases the "Kinect Effect"
(click to play)

Further information

Downloads of the Kinect for Windows SDK beta are offered, in both 32- and 64-bit versions, on the Microsoft Research website.

Jonathan Angel can be reached at jonathan.angel@ziffdavisenterprise.com and followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

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