Kinect for Windows: SDK and Runtime version 1.5 Released

If you are using the Kinect sensor for projects, especially if you have the new Kinect for Widows version, you will want to get the latest software development kit and related tools. There is a full list of what is involved at the Kinect for Windows Blog > Kinect for Windows: SDK and Runtime version 1.5 Released post. A video introduction to v1.5 is live on Channel 9 as well But a few highlights:

  • Seated Skeletal Tracking is now available. This tracks a 10-joint head/shoulders/arms skeleton, ignoring the leg and hip joints.
  • A set of Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) to guide developers on best practices for the creation of Natural User Interfaces using Kinect.
  • The Face Tracking SDK, which provides a real-time 3D mesh of facial features—tracking the head position, location of eyebrows, shape of the mouth, etc.
  • Significant sample code additions and improvements.  There are many new samples in both C++ and C#, plus a “Basics” series of samples with language coverage in C++, C#, and Visual Basic.

Did you catch that last bit? For the serious programmers among use there are now more Visual Basic code samples! Yeah, I’m happy about that. Sure I can program just find in C# and even C++ but given a choice I am a Visual Basic guy.

Anyway jump over and get the Kinect learning resources for the lasted version of the SDK. Download the latest Kinect software. And let’s see what you’ve got!