Microsoft to improve Kinect accuracy by 400 percent

Microsoft is currently working on improving Kinect accuracy by 400 percent, making it so the motion-control system can even read finger movements and hand rotations.

The team behind Kinect is working on a compression technology that will allow a much larger amount of data to pass from the Kinect to the Xbox 360.

When completed, Microsoft will update the hardware with a firmware update to allow the new technology.

The current depth sensor, explains EG is limited to 320x240 resolution and 30 fps, but the update will expand it to 640x480.

The USB controller interface is capable of a full 35MB/s but currently uses only 15MB/s.

"This artificial limit is in place because multiple USB devices can be used at once on an Xbox 360. But Microsoft is working on a technology to allow greater throughput in this regard," adds Eurogamer.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Dec 2010 17:37

bobiroc

Interesting. So the update will allow it to recognize finger movements huh? Any restrictions on what finger you are putting up there for the sensor(s) to recognize?

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20.12.2010 19:34 #1

Zealousi

And increase the USB data rate another 10mb, why did they not use the full speed in the first place. 360 has been out for years, why upgrade it now.

I guess that 400% extra detection ability is for the community calling it racist.

20.12.2010 21:34 #2

KillerBug

Hopefully they will improve the response time too.

20.12.2010 22:46 #3

Interestx

As I've said repeatedly, this is just the start.

2 or 3 gens down the line & this stuff is going to be everywhere and pretty amazing.
It is potentially so much more than just about mere gaming or PCs.
(voice and gesture control for the appliances in your home, for instance?)

The 2 things besides Kinect to keep an eye on are what is going on with 'Primesense' (the company that invented the Kinect tech and who have been selling it widely)
and
Apple.
Just to see how sick they become (green sour crab apples?) having passed up the chance to be in on the ground floor of this tech.

21.12.2010 12:44 #4

xnonsuchx

Originally posted by Interestx: (voice and gesture control for the appliances in your home, for instance?)
You gotta dance to turn your oven on...instead of walking the 20-50' and doing it manually. :-)

21.12.2010 20:12 #5

stuntman_

they should have just left the onboard processor in the device and made it a little more expensive, I don't think software can make up for the lack of hardware

21.12.2010 22:55 #6

Interestx

stuntman

Quote:they should have just left the onboard processor in the device and made it a little more expensive, I don't think software can make up for the lack of hardware I think this is a myth based on the (false) idea that more necessarily is more.
Ibisoft's 'Kinect Expert' reckons Kinect uses "less than 1% of the CPU's power".
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=258340

There's also this -
Quote:
Alex Kipman, head of the Kinect project, told GamesIndustry.biz that the motion controller doesn't use a huge amount of the Xbox 360's processing power. Indeed, he says it's a single digit power draw.

The news is contrary to quotes in a New Scientist article back in January which put the CPU power needed at 10-15 per cent.

However, it seems that those quotes weren't erroneous. Instead, the add-on has undergone some serious optimisation in the interim.

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/microsoft-kinect-uses-single-digit-cpu-power-of-xbox-360-905170#ixzz18red4kS1

22.12.2010 12:56 #7

ST2006

Originally posted by Interestx: As I've said repeatedly, this is just the start.

2 or 3 gens down the line & this stuff is going to be everywhere and pretty amazing.
It is potentially so much more than just about mere gaming or PCs.
(voice and gesture control for the appliances in your home, for instance?)

The 2 things besides Kinect to keep an eye on are what is going on with 'Primesense' (the company that invented the Kinect tech and who have been selling it widely)
and
Apple.
Just to see how sick they become (green sour crab apples?) having passed up the chance to be in on the ground floor of this tech. Interesting post, but very true. Great info!!

SmokeThis2006

29.12.2010 17:36 #8

0ldskool

Originally posted by Interestx: stuntman

Quote:they should have just left the onboard processor in the device and made it a little more expensive, I don't think software can make up for the lack of hardware I think this is a myth based on the (false) idea that more necessarily is more.
Ibisoft's 'Kinect Expert' reckons Kinect uses "less than 1% of the CPU's power".
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=258340

There's also this -
Quote:
Alex Kipman, head of the Kinect project, told GamesIndustry.biz that the motion controller doesn't use a huge amount of the Xbox 360's processing power. Indeed, he says it's a single digit power draw.

The news is contrary to quotes in a New Scientist article back in January which put the CPU power needed at 10-15 per cent.

However, it seems that those quotes weren't erroneous. Instead, the add-on has undergone some serious optimisation in the interim.

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/microsoft-kinect-uses-single-digit-cpu-power-of-xbox-360-905170#ixzz18red4kS1 the kinect might use less than 1% to actually gather the data but that most likely does not include the processing of the data to something usable. From what i heard from xbox game developers who were developing games for kinect as the kinect was being developed, the removal of the on board processor caused HUGE performance problems as the 360 does not have the processing power desired by newer games.

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30.12.2010 00:51 #9

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