Kinect for Windows Drops Today

Kinect for Windows has launched today.  The bundle includes a Kinect unit and a commercial license for the hardware.  Interestingly enough the Windows version of Kinect supposedly features advanced speech and audio capabilities, better skeletal tracking and the ability to be as close as 16 inches in front of the sensor.  There is no word on whether or not these updates will make it to the Xbox version, but I wouldn’t count on it.  I would however expect some serious Kinect integration with Windows 8.  Microsoft hopes to push Kinect beyond gaming and to expand in to industries like education, healthcare, retail and manufacturing.  I have to say, the sci-fi nerd in me wonders about the defense applications.  With the rise of UAVs how long will it be until humanoid drones are being piloted remotely by soldiers in front of Kinects?

Anyway, a video history of Kinect waits for you below.

This is more or less what inspired Kinect to begin with:

Here is how it works:

Here is its most common use on Xbox 360 (Skip to 00:27 and don’t feel compelled to watch the whole thing.  You get the gist of it within seconds.):

Here is early third-party Windows 7 implementation;

Here is what I really want it for: