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When Kinect launches for Windows computers early in 2012 the camera technology will offer functionality not possible with Kinect for Xbox 360, Craig Eisler, general manager, Kinect for Windows, has revealed.
In a MSDN blog, Eisler wrote: “Since announcing a few weeks ago that the Kinect for Windows commercial program will launch in early 2012, we’ve been asked whether there will also be new Kinect hardware especially for Windows. The answer is yes; building on the existing Kinect for Xbox 360 device, we have optimised certain hardware components and made firmware adjustments which better enable PC-centric scenarios.”
He added: “Simple changes include shortening the USB cable to ensure reliability across a broad range of computers and the inclusion of a small dongle to improve coexistence with other USB peripherals. Of particular interest to developers will be the new firmware which enables the depth camera to see objects as close as 50 centimetres in front of the device without losing accuracy or precision, with graceful degradation down to 40 centimetres.”
Dubbed “Near Mode”, Eisler says it will enable a new class of close up applications to be created.
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