Microsoft’s Xbox Kinect, a motion gaming peripheral is the future of gaming. Four years after Nintendo Wii was launched, the Kinect has taken motion gaming to a different level altogether. There are absolutely no physical controllers. The Kinect works very well with every Xbox and the concept here is that your own body is the controller. The games and applications of the Kinect make use of the microphone and camera to determine your intentions i.e. what you do and what you say and take appropriate action. The Xbox Kinect is more about your body as a controller rather than your movements appearing on the big screen.
Working – There is a sensor which has a RGB camera and a depth sensor for tracking movements. The movements of 48 key joints of your body are tracked by the sensor. The Kinect sees body in three dimensions. This is accomplished by overlaying inputs from both the camera and the depth sensor. There is an inbuilt microphone which allows controlling of the Xbox 360 just by using voice commands. Also, there is an infrared projector and a CMOS camera for tracking closeness to the screen. There is a motorised and pivoting neck on the Kinect which automatically makes it orient itself towards you.
The voice control, motion-tracking and light levels work very well without giving any problem whatsoever. However, holding up your arms high in the air to perform an action on the main menu is a thing many users are uncomfortable with. The more serious issue is the lag or time delay.There is a significant time-gap between your movements and they being shown on the screen. For all the games and applications, the delay depends on the pace of your movements. If you move slowly, there is no noticeable lag whereas for fast movement, the lag is more pronounced. Till you get used to it, the enjoyment levels for almost all users is limited. Inspite of all this, the uniqueness of the Kinect makes it a must have for Xbox users.
Voice control – The Xbox can be controlled by using just your own voice. Just by saying Xbox, an array of commands pop up on the screen which enable you to direct the Xbox what to do.
Conclusion – The controller –free motion sensing works exceedingly well but the lag issues and non-availability of quality games mars its launch. Also, the price tag of Rs.9990 is quite steep. However, it is an impressive piece of technology and has truly raised the bar all the revolutionary games to be launched in the future.
