Microsoft releases Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK)

Microsoft today released a highly anticipated programming toolkit for Kinect that will help enthusiasts, academics, and researchers dream up new uses for the hands-free sensor.

The Kinect for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) allows developers to plug the Kinect sensor—and the in-depth stream of 3-D imagery it gets from its camera—directly into a Windows-based PC. This gives developers access to the "raw sensor streams" in Kinect, including its high-performance skeletal-tracking capabilities, a sophisticated microphone array, and sample code to demonstrate how to use the sensor.

We saw the Kinect being used with Microsoft Dynamics AX at Convergence 2011 in Atlanta, below is the picture of Lachlan Cash demonstrating changing manufacturing schedules using an Xbox Kinect controller and just his hand motion to move a planned production from one day to the next.

So who will be first to produce a Kinect addon for Microsoft Dynamics GP?  What uses for a motion controller can you see working in the real world?

For more information check out the sites below:

• Microsoft Releases Kinect for Windows SDK Beta for Academics and Enthusiasts
   
• Kinect For Windows SDK beta

Post your thoughts as comments.

David

17-Jun-2010: Adding photo of Lachlan Cash from Convergence as suggested by Mariano.