Thoughts on the Kinect hacks and iPad Hacks

Wow, wouldn’t it be nice to have tools like XNA Game studio to  build an application that used Kinect on the Xbox?  I think it would be a great idea.  On the other hand, using Kinect hacks outside of academics?  Waste of time.  Focus on Windows Presentation Foundation, learn XAML, learn HTML5, better use of your time.

I like it when people (Mark Bolas not included in this group) come up to me and ask: “How many people are using Kinect with open source?”, with a smirk or a gleeful smile on their face.  All I can say to them is: “No one”.  Really why would anyone?  The games are structured and well written for Kinect on the Xbox, can you say the same for Linux or Windows?  Would a normal person (which includes App Devs) go out to buy a Kinect to use with Linux or Windows?  Seriously, I just don’t think so.

Of course the hackers are serious developers who like to lead the curve and give Microsoft a poke in the side.  Hacking for the general population of users, even most app developers, might be interesting but follows with a big “So What?”  Unless there is a security hack, then it is followed with an arrest warrant, but a security hack is different than the Kinect Hacks or an iPad Hack.

Frankly, I think these hacks are a waste of time outside of academics or research.  If you do an interesting hack these days, are you going to be able to monetize it?  Are you going to save the world?  Not likely, most people (and this includes app devs) are no longer using stuff that lone hackers create, mainly because it is could be a security issue or not easily/safely obtainable.  Face facts, commodity prices are going up, the opportunity to work for free is going to decrease, you need to make money.  Who is going to pay for a Kinect Hack?  Ok, a teacher or professor might give you a grade if you use the Kinect hack, and that is a good learning experience.  Are any companies going to pay for your work?  I doubt it.

The old world of hackers, like the legion who broke into Lotus Notes in the 1990s is over, time to move on.  In the old days hackers did interesting things and gave corporations heads up that they had a security breach.  Currently?  Hackers are mostly script kiddies that like to think that they are performing a service.  The reality, is that they are simply annoying the people who want to use their purchased software for business or pleasure, OR, the hackers are breaking into the systems to steal information or IDs, which in many countries can lead to jail time, and jail time is not a good thing.

If you know someone who is a “hacker”: if they are “hacking” to test security leaks and make legal money doing so, then fine leave them alone.  If the hacker you know isn’t making legal money or no money, then you might want to talk to them about their purpose in life, point out that life is getting more expensive and that the world of software has changed.  If the hacker who isn’t making legal money or no money is attempting to change the world, ask them to enter the Imagine Cup (https://www.imaginecup.us for the United States, https://www.imaginecup.com internationally).  Otherwise, would you really buy the Kinect sensor to run on your Windows Machine and use hacked software?

Seriously, Hacking Kinect or iPad: Does anyone really care?