XBOX KINECT / HACK CULTURE
29 November 2010
Tech geeks are opening up the Kinect for the greater good
- Brand
- Microsoft Xbox
- Media Type
- Gaming
- Online
- Viral
- Product Category
- Consumer Electronics
- IT/Office Technology
- Country
- Global
- Source
- News
- Tags
- Microsoft
- Xbox
- Kinect
- YouTube
- hacks
Following the release of the Xbox Kinect, the tech community online has been buzzing with videos, blog posts and forum threads on how to hack into Microsoft's shiny new kit featuring an RGB camera and a depth sensor to track movement. The Kinect measures the positioning of 48 key joints on gamers bodies, tracking them to let gamers control the action in a highly physical way. Sure, its great fun the whole family - but apparently even more enjoyable for geeks hacking into it.
YouTube has been flooded with videos (there are close to 5,000 results for 'Kinect hack' to date) showing everything from the useful (creating multi-touch interaction Minority Report style; combining two Kinects to record video in 3D) to the downright weird; a silent darkened bedroom with a techie converting a broomstick into virtual lightsaber.
The excitement surrounding the Kinect hack culture comes from the fact that these opportunities were previously reserved for an elite group who could afford expensive hardware. Microsoft, whether intentionally or not, has turned its reputation on its head by opening this up to a huge audience allowing them to test and share their ideas and solutions on a global scale. The implications are major, from education to healthcare and the arts; every industry could potentially be affected.
Interestingly, the first iterations of these 'hacks' online seemed to ruffle the feathers of Microsoft. In an interview with CNET on November 4th a company spokesperson said; 'Microsoft does not condone the modification of its products'. They went on to say 'Microsoft will continue to make advances in these types of safeguards and work closely with law enforcement and product safety groups to keep Kinect tamper-resistant'.
However more recently, Xbox's director of incubation, Alex Kipman told National Public Radio's Science Daily program that the product was left open intentionally. This appears to now be the party line, as the sentiment was backed by Shannon Loftis, studio manager at Microsoft Game Studios, who said that she was 'excited to see that people are so inspired'.
Our top 3 hacks so far are;
Comment with your favourites below...
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COMMENTS /
Marcel Kornblum
Apparently, their 'tamper-resistant' comments were based on the fact that they've done lots of work to make sure people aren't able to cheat, or worse - to hack into other people's cameras without their knowledge.
Once they saw what people were doing - basically using the hardware addition without trying to use it manipulate Xbox Live, games, or anything else that affects security or sales, they got behind it.
I've no idea if it was left open intentionally - but I assume not as the 'hacks' are based on OS drivers that have been reverse engineered from sniffing the USB traffic between the device and the Xbox itself. Presumably if it had been intentional they'd have released documentation about the protocol it uses.
Either way, they're doing the right thing; it's nice to see Microsoft in the role of sponsor of innovation for a change!
Helen
The Roundhouse BlackBox session with British Sea Power was an awesome use of XBOX hacking goodness... they broadcast a live music video clip created by the technology check it out:
http://www.myspace.com/roundhouseblackbox