Microsoft says Kinect won't support sign language, downgraded cameras likely to blame
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 11th 2010 2:14PM
posted August 11th 2010 2:14PM
It was mentioned in the patent application, but it looks like Microsoft's Kinect won't be offering support for sign language after all. That's now been confirmed by Microsoft itself, which told Kotaku that it "files lots of patent applications to protect our intellectual property, not all of which are brought to market right away," before flatly stating that "Kinect that is shipping this holiday will not support sign language." The reason? It seems to be the result of Kinect's cameras, which Kotaku says were originally supposed to have a "much higher resolution," but were eventually downgraded to 320 x 240 in an apparent cost-saving move. If you parse Microsoft's, however, you'll noticed that it doesn't exactly rule out the possibility of Kinect ever supporting sign language; it simply says that the version launching this holiday season won't support it.
@APV You do understand when you're talking about 1.3MP cameras on a cellphone that this is technology that has absolutely nothing to do with Kinect's infrared cameras?
These Kinect cameras do have "night-vision." They have technology more advanced than night vision. Not only can these cameras see everything in darkness they can look at a room and map out 3D objects including but not limited to 6 human bodies at once. That's not something that a cellphone camera, let alone a night vision camera can do.
@cool8man
"They have technology more advanced than night vision. Not only can these cameras see everything in darkness they can look at a room and map out 3D objects including but not limited to 6 human bodies at once. That's not something that a cellphone camera, let alone a night vision camera can do. "
LOL, you still believe that? Most of this has been refuted. the reason MS is not selling night vision products is that they cannot compete in that field. ALL cameras are IR camera (shine your TV remote at a Playstation's camera... they can read IR too like almost every modern camera can).
You're buying a lot of hogwash. There is nothing advanced about this Kniecth. It has an IR LIGHTBULB. That's the special capability. It's not really night vision at all (night vision doesn't require that at all, and your idea that this is more advanced is just pure fanboy mentality).
The games are going to stink with this kind of ancient precision. The Wii's remote is more advanced.
@cool8man its the one they showed off in e3 2009.. Its the one they have been working with for the longest and its that glitchy... Dude just give it up..
i wonder if this could be used like iCommunicator in reverse.
sign-to-text vs text-sign.
Basically it just needs to recognize ONE sign gesture anyway....
Microsoft, it won't support sign language? then I simply won't buy it.
If it can't read your fingers now, what about the game Kinectimals where you use your fingers to scratch the animal?
I don't think that anyone really understand the resolution 320 by 240.
If you're 6-foot tall, and stand so the camera can just see all of you head to toe, that's still 40 "blocks" per foot kinect can see. That's 3 and a third per INCH. Sure, this might not look so good in a photograph or video, but that's not what kinect is for. Kinect is to detect movement, which this will do just fine.
For tracking, high recording FPS gives better usability than higher resolution. Even still, low resolution and thus accuracy will limit the type of game 'involvement' we'll see from developers. Games in development now will more likely be dumbed down versions for release. For now I would rather go for higher FPS, and when Kinect gets more popular version2 can go HD.
Kinect HD- 2011, heard it hear first..
@Crimson Major Don't count on it. The plan is to reduce the cost to manufacture Kinect over time. Just like the Xbox itself Microsoft plans to make Kinect smaller, remove unnecessary components and increase profitability. In the Gizmodo piece they mention wanting to remove the fan for example.
There will be a next-gen of Kinect no doubt, but it won't be in 2011. Probably more like 2014 or 2015.
F#$% You, Microsoft. I'm deaf and You are CHEAPASS! Thank God I have MacBook and Ubuntu on my Dell Laptop!
Damn, all that time I spent learning the sign for "YOU JUST GOT PWNED, SON!" has been wasted.
I wounder what would have happened if Microsoft would have gone all out and made Kinect with high def cameras and the original in-built processor? Would we all be willing to pay $250 to $300 for it? I don't think it would have mattered. Bottom line; there's no killer app for it. I'll consider buying one when they make something worth while for it.
So THIS version has 'crippled' cameras so they can get $150 from suckers THIS year and another $150 or so for Kinect 2 NEXT year???
So for your $150, you get two QVGA cameras? Color me unimpressed.
This is what i dont understand, it wouldnt of cost much more to add better cameras
and YES i know not all games willl show you and your living room on the tv screen BUT there are and will be more games like there is with the playstation move where you/your image is shown on the tv screen hence why we need better cameras
the playstation eye is 640 res which is better than the kinects by the look of things
and even the ps eyes camera quallity is shocking
try playing eye pet etc when there is no bright daylight lighting up your living room its shocking and very grainy and spoils the game because yyou dont blend in with the game content.
these are HD game systems so why arnt we having hd cameras in these things?? lets face it it isnt very costly for a hd cam nowadays
Seriously guys, just buy a PS3 it's better in EVERY way, the facts are all around us so u can't aruge it.