Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Scientists train Kinect to follow your tongue wagging]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/scientists-train-kinect-to-follow-your-tongue-wagging/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/scientists-train-kinect-to-follow-your-tongue-wagging/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/03/scientists-train-kinect-to-follow-your-tongue-wagging/#comments ImageWe've seen Microsoft's diverse little Xbox motion controller go on to do a heck of a lot more than the company ever indeed, but up to now, it hasn't really done much to capture the majesty that is the human tongue. Thankfully, a team of researchers at the University of Electro-Communications in Japan are working to right that wrong, developing a system that can detect tongue movements, using the relative positions of a user's eyes and nose. The feature has been demoed with an Asteroids-like shooting game -- stick out your tongue to fire and move it left or right to adjust your aim. The whole thing has some practical applications beyond just making people looking goofy on video -- scientists see it as a way to train the tongue for folks with speech and swallowing disorders, one that doesn't require an unhygienic tongue attachment. Don't worry, you don't have to attach anything to your mouth to watch the video after the break, either.

Continue reading Scientists train Kinect to follow your tongue wagging

Scientists train Kinect to follow your tongue wagging originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackjapankinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosofttongueUniversity of Electro-CommunicationsUniversityOfElectro-communicationsvideoxboxxbox 360Xbox360Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft TechForum unveils three research projects (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/microsoft-techforum-unveils-three-research-projects-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/microsoft-techforum-unveils-three-research-projects-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/microsoft-techforum-unveils-three-research-projects-video/#comments TechForum is a Microsoft-sponsored shindig where the company can get together, party, and then show off its latest and greatest research projects. First up we've got a transparent interactive 3D display which builds on technology from Cambridge University's HoloDesk project. Next is Holoflector, a "magic mirror" that overlays LCD projections onto your reflection. Both of these two projects rely heavily upon Kinect as more projects find the potential in the little sensor. Finally there's Illumishare, a pair of overhead projectors / cameras that share a desktop space with a colleague when you need to look at the same thing. After the break you can see all three concepts in action and you can learn a little more about each at our source links.

[Thanks, Lokitoth]

Continue reading Microsoft TechForum unveils three research projects (video)

Microsoft TechForum unveils three research projects (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HoloDeckHoloflectorHologramsHolographyIllumishareKinectKinect DevKinect HackKinect Skeletal TrackingKinectDevKinectHackKinectSkeletalTrackingMagic MirrorMagicMirrorMicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoft TechForumMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftTechforumMotion TrackingMotionTrackingProjectorResearchScienceTechForumTelecommunicationsvideoTue, 28 Feb 2012 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/html5-based-depthcam-puts-a-fresh-spin-on-kinect-hacks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/html5-based-depthcam-puts-a-fresh-spin-on-kinect-hacks/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/html5-based-depthcam-puts-a-fresh-spin-on-kinect-hacks/#comments It's not the first time we've seen HTML5 used in conjunction with a Kinect hack, but George MacKerron's so-called Depthcam takes things to some interesting new levels. It's a live webcam that you can interact with in your web browser (Chrome only, for now). As you might expect, the ability to explore is a bit limited, but you are able to pan and zoom around the scene -- which is certainly impressive enough on its on. You can try it our yourself a the source link below (resources permitting), or get an idea of what it's like in the video after the break.

Continue reading HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks

HTML5-based Depthcam puts a fresh spin on Kinect hacks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>depthcamhackhtml5kinectkinect hackKinectHackminipostvideowebcamWed, 08 Feb 2012 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/kinect-and-windows-phone-combine-to-create-holographic-game-engi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/kinect-and-windows-phone-combine-to-create-holographic-game-engi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/kinect-and-windows-phone-combine-to-create-holographic-game-engi/#comments
If your life is anything like ours, it's in sore need of more pseudo-holographic helicopters. Fortunately, YouTube user programming4fun has come up with a solution, using Microsoft's Kinect beta SDK and a Windows Phone handset. The system, pictured above, basically consists of a Kinect and a 3D engine; the former tracks the position of a viewer and automatically adjusts the image projected by the latter, creating the illusion of a 3D landscape. In this case, that landscape happened to feature a holographic helicopter, which could be controlled using a phone's accelerometer and a Windows Phone 7 app (apparently called HoloController). Watch it in action, after the break.

Continue reading Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video)

Kinect and Windows Phone combine to create holographic game engine (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dappapplicationdevelopergame engineGameEngineholographkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmobilepostcrossmsftsdkvideowindowswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Agile Route's Shopper Tracker brings Kinect hacks, Google Analytics to the grocery aisle (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/agile-routes-shopper-tracker-brings-kinect-hacks-google-analyt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/agile-routes-shopper-tracker-brings-kinect-hacks-google-analyt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/07/agile-routes-shopper-tracker-brings-kinect-hacks-google-analyt/#comments
The Shopper Tracker is one of those devices that does exactly what its name suggests -- and so much more. Developed by Argentina's Agile Route, this Kinect hack uses an array of heat sensors and 3D spatial recognition software to track a consumer's movements and behavior within any brick and mortar retail outlet. These data can then be used by a store owner to find out which shelves and items are appealing to customers, effectively adding a Google Analytics-like dimension to their product displays. The system is also capable of tracking multiple people at once, and can even provide feedback on which products consumers actually pull from the shelves. According to the company, this type of analysis can result in obvious strategic benefits for merchants, while reminding the rest of us that we're totally predictable. Check it out in action, after the break.

Continue reading Agile Route's Shopper Tracker brings Kinect hacks, Google Analytics to the grocery aisle (video)

Agile Route's Shopper Tracker brings Kinect hacks, Google Analytics to the grocery aisle (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d spatial recognition3dSpatialRecognitionAgile RouteAgileRouteargentinabrick and mortarBrickAndMortarbusinessconsumerconsumer behaviorConsumerBehaviordatagoogle analyticsGoogleAnalyticsheat mapheat sensorHeatMapHeatSensorkinectkinect hackKinectHackmerchantmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmoneyproductsensorShopper TrackerShopperTrackershoppingSKUsoftwarestrategytargeted advertisingTargetedAdvertisingtrackingvideoWed, 07 Dec 2011 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[SandyStation interactive sandbox uses Kinect to make topography much more interesting (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/sandystation-interactive-sandbox-uses-kinect-to-make-topography/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/sandystation-interactive-sandbox-uses-kinect-to-make-topography/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/sandystation-interactive-sandbox-uses-kinect-to-make-topography/#comments
If you're not really into using your Kinect experiment to launch your new startup or give your next presentation, let us offer another entertaining option. Two students at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen have created an interactive sandbox using Kinect, a projector, a computer and, of course, a box chock full of sand. The Xbox motion / depth detector is installed about two feet above the sand pit to measure each area that is carved out. Using a unique detection program, the topographical information is then transmitted to a data projector that renders an image in the sandpit -- the image being a color based on the height or depth of what has been created. The devs have built out a few different projections. Hills that are constructed by the user are assigned a shade of green based on height, while troughs are given blue hues according to depth. What's that? You built a hill and dug out the center? The projector sees that as a volcano, complete with spewing lava. If you're tired of SimCity and want to actually get your hands dirty, take a peak at the video just past the break.

[Thanks, Mark]

Continue reading SandyStation interactive sandbox uses Kinect to make topography much more interesting (video)

SandyStation interactive sandbox uses Kinect to make topography much more interesting (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Czech RepublicCzechRepublichackinteractive sandboxInteractiveSandboxkinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectMSMSFTprogramprogrammingprojectorsandboxsandystationtopographyvideowindowsxboxWed, 30 Nov 2011 01:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Turn your Kinect hack into a startup with Microsoft's Accelerator program]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/20/turn-your-kinect-hack-into-a-startup-with-microsofts-accelerato/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/20/turn-your-kinect-hack-into-a-startup-with-microsofts-accelerato/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/20/turn-your-kinect-hack-into-a-startup-with-microsofts-accelerato/#comments Wanna turn your Kinect hack into, um, money? Microsoft can help you out, now that it's teamed up with TechStars to launch the Kinect Accelerator -- a program designed to turn Kinect-based ideas into real world startups. To participate, innovators must first apply to the Accelerator before the January 25th deadline. Ten applicants will then be accepted to a three-month incubation program, and rewarded with $20,000 in seed money. To participate, however, you'd have to relocate to Seattle for the duration of the program, scheduled to kick off this Spring. Plus, if you manage to bring your company to market, you'll have to set aside a six percent common stock stake for TechStars, which is both funding and spearheading the initiative. For more details on how to apply, hit up the source link below.

Turn your Kinect hack into a startup with Microsoft's Accelerator program originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdevelopmententrepreneurfundingideaindustryinitiativeinnovationkinectkinect acceleratorkinect hackKinectAcceleratorKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmoneyMSMSFTprogramseed moneySeedMoneystartupTechStarswindowsxboxSun, 20 Nov 2011 05:21:00 EST<![CDATA[My Keepon: Kinect-ing hackers and goths through the art of dance (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/my-keepon-kinect-ing-hackers-and-goths-through-the-art-of-dance/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/my-keepon-kinect-ing-hackers-and-goths-through-the-art-of-dance/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/my-keepon-kinect-ing-hackers-and-goths-through-the-art-of-dance/#comments If rhythm is a dancer, then My Keepon is a goth. The adorable, Snowman-like (yellow snow, in this case) bot just recently received a wallet-friendly retail debut, so join us in the not-surprised-to-see-this-get-a-Kinect-hack (by way of Arduino) camp. Granted, the lil' guy's moves may be stilted, but he's clearly not the star of this YouTube show. We were more impressed with his gesture-cuing Gepetto's discotheque living room get down. So, do you think you can dance to industrial music and mod this $35 holiday hot toy? Then clearly you need to hit up the source for all the necessary coding bits. But first, be sure to take a gander at the industrial grind after the break.

Continue reading My Keepon: Kinect-ing hackers and goths through the art of dance (video)

My Keepon: Kinect-ing hackers and goths through the art of dance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArduinoBeatBotsGothhackindustrial musicIndustrialMusicKeeponKinectKinect hackKinectHackmodMy KeeponMyKeeponvideoFri, 18 Nov 2011 13:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect BeatWheel hack makes you do the windmill]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/kinect-beatwheel-hack-makes-you-do-the-windmill/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/kinect-beatwheel-hack-makes-you-do-the-windmill/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/kinect-beatwheel-hack-makes-you-do-the-windmill/#comments Running out of avant garde ways of making music? Then perhaps this BeatWheel hack for Kinect, made at a recent Music Hackday in Boston, will give you some fresh ideas. Music samples are separated into eight segments, which encircle the user like a clockface. You then control which part plays by waving your hands around like a severely caffeinated Bernstein. Check out the shadowy BeatWheel demo after the break.

Continue reading Kinect BeatWheel hack makes you do the windmill

Kinect BeatWheel hack makes you do the windmill originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beatwheelBoston Music Hack DayBostonMusicHackDayhackinstrumentkinectkinect beatwheelkinect hackKinectBeatwheelKinectHackmusicsample loopsSampleLoopsXbox 360xbox kinectXbox360XboxKinectThu, 10 Nov 2011 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack makes presentation slides work around you (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/kinect-hack-makes-presentation-slides-work-around-you-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/kinect-hack-makes-presentation-slides-work-around-you-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/kinect-hack-makes-presentation-slides-work-around-you-video/#comments
What's the scariest thing about presentations? Getting the perfect angle. You know, the point on stage where you can wave at your slides without blocking the projector bulb or your audience's view. Thankfully, Haruki Maeda from Meiji University is gonna show your text and graphics who's the boss. He's knocked up presentation software that can sense where you stand and orders the text into the visible space around you. Transitions are handled with gestures and you can even pinch-to-zoom live on stage. If you'd guessed there was some Kinect magic at the heart of it, well, thanks for reading the title. The modest Mr. Maeda says all it took was some C#, the Kinect SDK and an Excel spreadsheet to get this beauty working. You don't even need to do that if you're curious yourself -- just go and watch the video we've got after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hack makes presentation slides work around you (video)

Kinect hack makes presentation slides work around you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DynamicDynamic Presentation SlidesDynamic SlidesDynamicPresentationSlidesDynamicSlidesHaruki MaedaHarukiMaedaKinectKinect HackKinectHackMeijiMeiji UniversityMeijiUniversityPowerpointPresentation SlidesPresentationSlidesvideoMon, 31 Oct 2011 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[How The Gadget Show built its FPS simulator (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/how-the-gadget-show-built-its-fps-simulator-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/how-the-gadget-show-built-its-fps-simulator-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/how-the-gadget-show-built-its-fps-simulator-video/#comments
Remember The Gadget Show's FPS simulator that we showed you last week? Armed with naught but a pre-release level of Battlefield 3 and £500,000 ($650,000), it transformed a Birmingham studio into the sort of game room only multi-billionaires can dream of (as long as the dreams involved getting shot back, the sim comes packing paintball markers). The episode, which shows how this slice of gaming greatness came to be, has just finished airing here in the UK, where streaming and catch-up services aren't available to those outside the country. Fortunately for you lot, our friends at the show have uploaded the feature for you to watch in all its glory after the break.

Continue reading How The Gadget Show built its FPS simulator (video)

How The Gadget Show built its FPS simulator (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlefield 3Battlefield3BF3Channel 5Channel5FPS SimFPS SimulatorFpsSimFpsSimulatorGame SimulatorgamesGameSimulatorgamingIgloo VisionIglooVisionJason BradburyJasonBradburyKinectKinect HackKinectHackMSE WeibullMseWeibullOmnidirectional TreadmillOmnidirectionalTreadmillPaintballPaintball MarkerPaintballMarkerSimSimsSimulatorSimulatorsSuzi PerrySuziPerryThe Gadget ShowTheGadgetShowvideoMon, 24 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft HoloDesk: when you need to juggle something that isn't there (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/microsoft-holodesk-when-you-need-to-juggle-something-that-isnt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/microsoft-holodesk-when-you-need-to-juggle-something-that-isnt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/microsoft-holodesk-when-you-need-to-juggle-something-that-isnt/#comments

If you'd thought that OmniTouch and PocketTouch were the end of Microsoft Research's natural user interface projects, think again. It's now released a video of the HoloDesk, a tool that lets you manipulate virtual 3D objects with your bare hands. Looking through a transparent display, the objects react nearly instantly, rolling from a sheet of real paper into a real cup and falling into shadow if you block the virtual light-source. The Cambridge lab that developed the tool sees uses in remote working, collaboration or device prototyping. If you hadn't guessed, there's a hacked Kinect at the heart of HoloDesk's DNA, which makes us wonder how long it'll be before we can use it to play Halo.

Microsoft HoloDesk: when you need to juggle something that isn't there (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3DCambridgeDevelopmentEngineeringHoloDeskKinectKinect HackKinectHackMicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoft User InterfaceMicrosoftResearchMicrosoftUserInterfaceNatural User InterfaceNaturalUserInterfaceNUIRedmondResearchvideoVirtualVirtual 3DVirtual3dThu, 20 Oct 2011 14:52:00 EST<![CDATA[The Gadget Show builds an FPS simulator that shoots back (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/the-gadget-show-builds-an-fps-simulator-that-shoots-back-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/the-gadget-show-builds-an-fps-simulator-that-shoots-back-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/the-gadget-show-builds-an-fps-simulator-that-shoots-back-video/#comments
Racing simulators are ten a penny, but the closest an FPS player will get to an immersive experience is buying some branded peripherals. Armed with a pre-release level of Battlefield 3, The Gadget Show enlisted a team of design experts to transform a Birmingham studio into an FPS simulator costing £500,000 ($650,000). A four by nine meter video dome surrounds the player as they stand on an omni-directional treadmill that lets you walk wherever you want to go. Ten infra-red motion tracking cameras and a sensor on your gun enables the picture to follow where you point it and a Kinect hack controls your jumping and crouching. The fun doesn't stop there -- 12 paintball markers mean that every time you get shot in the game, you'll feel it. The show airs in the UK on October 24th at 8:00pm, Channel 5. We've got a behind the scenes gallery below (supplied by those lovely people from the show) as well as PR and a trailer after the break.

Gallery: The Gadget Show Battlefield 3 Simulator - Behind the Scenes Gallery

The Gadget Show Battlefield 3 Simulator - Behind the Scenes Gallery

Continue reading The Gadget Show builds an FPS simulator that shoots back (video)

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The Gadget Show builds an FPS simulator that shoots back (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Battlefield 3Battlefield3BF3Channel 5Channel5FPS SimFPS SimulatorFpsSimFpsSimulatorGame SimulatorGameSimulatorIgloo VisionIglooVisionJason BradburyJasonBradburyKinectKinect HackKinectHackMSE WeibullMseWeibullOmnidirectional TreadmillOmnidirectionalTreadmillPaintballPaintball MarkerPaintballMarkerSimSimsSimulatorSimulatorsSuzi PerrySuziPerryThe Gadget ShowTheGadgetShowvideoThu, 20 Oct 2011 03:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/kinect-hack-lets-you-manage-your-bank-account-with-gestures-wil/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/kinect-hack-lets-you-manage-your-bank-account-with-gestures-wil/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/kinect-hack-lets-you-manage-your-bank-account-with-gestures-wil/#comments
You know all those convoluted gestures and hate-infused fist pumps you make every time you look at your bank account? Well, you can now put them to good use, thanks to a new Kinect hack from Lithuania-based Etronika. The company's software, which made its debut at last week's CTIA E&A event, effectively brings motion-controlled banking directly to your living room. All you have to do is stand in front of your display, clap your hands to choose an icon, or wave your hand back and forth to navigate across the app's carousel menu. This means you can pay your bills, check your balance and return to fetal position without even touching a sharp object. "A lot of banking software apps are filled with boring crap," Etronika CEO Kestutis Gardziulis explained with refreshing candor. "With our software, you could be on the couch at home, having a beer, all while dealing with your bank account and kicking back." Beer, banking and body language -- sounds scandalous! Head past the break to watch a demo video, starring Pam Beesly's doppelgänger.

Continue reading Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video)

Kinect hack lets you manage your bank account with gestures, will occupy your living room (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapplicationbankbankingctiaCtiaEa2011demodisplayEtronikafinancegestureinterfacekinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmoneymotion controlmotion controlledmotion sensorMotionControlMotionControlledMotionSensormovementonline bankingOnlineBankingpaymentpersonal bankingpersonal financePersonalBankingPersonalFinancesensorUIMon, 17 Oct 2011 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[ASIMO mimics your every move, edges closer towards Single White Robot territory (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/01/asimo-mimics-your-every-move-edges-closer-towards-single-white/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/01/asimo-mimics-your-every-move-edges-closer-towards-single-white/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/01/asimo-mimics-your-every-move-edges-closer-towards-single-white/#comments Hey, look Engadgeteers! It's another Kinect hack -- except this one uses a real deal robot. Honda ushered ASIMO out to the crowds at IEEE's 2011 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems to show off its newly acquired pop and lock skills. Alright, so the silicon-gutted fella can't krump with the best of'em yet, but he can probably do the locomotion -- it all depends on your dance repertoire. After toiling away in their mad scientist lairs, the researchers behind the bot have managed to devise a means of mimicking human movement that translates mapped points on a user's upper body into real-time, robot-replicated motion. The devious among you are likely imagining left-of-center uses for the tech, but let us deflate that mischievous balloon; there'll be no instances of "stop hitting yourself ASIMO" here, as engineers have built-in collision and stability safeguards. The so-lifelike-it's-Uncanny advancements don't end there either, since ASIMO also contains a database of text-inspired gestures -- giving our future robot friend a means of physically expressing his cold, "I hate you so much right now" robo-tone. Other than finding himself at home in Italy, these innovations are sure to put ASIMO on the other end of our remote-controlled behest. Click on past the break to see this automated mime drop it like it's hot.

Continue reading ASIMO mimics your every move, edges closer towards Single White Robot territory (video)

ASIMO mimics your every move, edges closer towards Single White Robot territory (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ASIMOgesturegesture controlGestureControlgesturesHondaHonda ASIMOHondaAsimoInternational Conference on Intelligent Robots and SystemsInternationalConferenceOnIntelligentRobotsAndSystemsKinectkinect hackKinectHackMicrosoft KinectMicrosoftKinectrobotrobotsvideoSat, 01 Oct 2011 19:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect / Arduino hack makes stuffed monkey dance for your amusement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/kinect-arduino-hack-makes-stuffed-monkey-dance-for-your-amusem/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/kinect-arduino-hack-makes-stuffed-monkey-dance-for-your-amusem/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/kinect-arduino-hack-makes-stuffed-monkey-dance-for-your-amusem/#comments
Just when you thought that people had squeezed the last drop of creativity out of Microsoft's Kinect, something like this comes along. It's a stuffed monkey with a robotic skeleton that can mimic the movements of the person standing in front of it. "Monkey Business" is an art installation of sorts created by Jan M. Sieber and Ralph Kistler. It uses a camera sensor from a Kinect, an Arduino mircocontroller, and 10 servomotors. The smirking robo-monkey, meanwhile, is suspended from the wall, giving it a full range of movement. The resulting video is pretty darn delightful.

Continue reading Kinect / Arduino hack makes stuffed monkey dance for your amusement

Kinect / Arduino hack makes stuffed monkey dance for your amusement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arduinohackJan M. SieberJanM.Sieberkinectkinect for xbox 360kinect hackkinect hacksKinectForXbox360KinectHackKinectHacksmicrocontrollermicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmonkeyralph kistlerRalphKistlerWed, 10 Aug 2011 23:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft's KinectFusion research project offers real-time 3D reconstruction, wild AR possibilities]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/microsofts-kinectfusion-research-project-offers-real-time-3d-re/#comments It's a little shocking to think about the impact that Microsoft's Kinect camera has had on the gaming industry at large, let alone the 3D modeling industry. Here at SIGGRAPH 2011, we attended a KinectFusion research talk hosted by Microsoft, where a fascinating new look at real-time 3D reconstruction was detailed. To better appreciate what's happening here, we'd actually encourage you to hop back and have a gander at our hands-on with PrimeSense's raw motion sensing hardware from GDC 2010 -- for those who've forgotten, that very hardware was finally outed as the guts behind what consumers simply know as "Kinect." The breakthrough wasn't in how it allowed gamers to control common software titles sans a joystick -- the breakthrough was the price. The Kinect took 3D sensing to the mainstream, and moreover, allowed researchers to pick up a commodity product and go absolutely nuts. Turns out, that's precisely what a smattering of highly intelligent blokes in the UK have done, and they've built a new method for reconstructing 3D scenes (read: real-life) in real-time by using a simple Xbox 360 peripheral.

The actual technobabble ran deep -- not shocking given the academic nature of the conference -- but the demos shown were nothing short of jaw-dropping. There's no question that this methodology could be used to spark the next generation of gaming interaction and augmented reality, taking a user's surroundings and making it a live part of the experience. Moreover, game design could be significantly impacted, with live scenes able to be acted out and stored in real-time rather than having to build something frame by frame within an application. According to the presenter, the tech that's been created here can "extract surface geometry in real-time," right down to the millimeter level. Of course, the Kinect's camera and abilities are relatively limited when it comes to resolution; you won't be building 1080p scenes with a $150 camera, but as CPUs and GPUs become more powerful, there's nothing stopping this from scaling with the future. Have a peek at the links below if you're interested in diving deeper -- don't be shocked if you can't find the exit, though.

Gallery: Microsoft's KinectFusion research project at SIGGRAPH 2011

Microsoft's KinectFusion research project offers real-time 3D reconstruction, wild AR possibilities originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dARaugmented realityAugmentedRealityfusion kinectFusionKinecthackinteractionkinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft researchMicrosoftResearchmotion sensingMotionSensingnewcastleresearchsensorsensorssiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011ukuniversityxboxxbox 360xbox kinectXbox360XboxKinectTue, 09 Aug 2011 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Archaeologists eschewing traditional whip / leather jacket combo for Kinect controllers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/archeologists-eschewing-traditional-whip-leather-jacket-combo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/archeologists-eschewing-traditional-whip-leather-jacket-combo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/archeologists-eschewing-traditional-whip-leather-jacket-combo/#comments The latest must-have piece of technology in the archaeological world? The Kinect. Students from the University of California, San Diego are taking Microsoft's much-hacked peripheral on an archeological dig in Jordan, using the device to help create 3D scans of the site on the cheap. The hack pulls data captured by the Kinect's camera and infrared scanner, turning the information into avatars that can be plugged into virtual worlds. The hack's creator is hoping that it might some day be able to capture information as complex as a buildings or neighborhoods. The first, decidedly less ambitious application is being referred to as "ArKinect," because what's a cool hack without a cool name?

Continue reading Archaeologists eschewing traditional whip / leather jacket combo for Kinect controllers

Archaeologists eschewing traditional whip / leather jacket combo for Kinect controllers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archeologyarkinectdigjordankinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectucsduniversity of california san diegoUniversityOfCaliforniaSanDiegovideoWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect app promises you'll wear flowery skirts, and you'll like it (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/kinect-hack-promises-youll-wear-flowery-skirts-and-youll-like/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/kinect-hack-promises-youll-wear-flowery-skirts-and-youll-like/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/08/kinect-hack-promises-youll-wear-flowery-skirts-and-youll-like/#comments Don't be shy now: which of you doesn't love raiding your mother's closet and trying on her paisley dresses and velour tracksuits? That's more or less the idea behind Virtual Dressing Room, a Kinect program that taps into the clandestine thrill of sneaking into other people's boudoirs. Unlike some other shopping hacks we've seen, the app goes beyond just pilling on 2D pieces, but uses 3D models so that the items mold to your limbs, with the shadows and creases in the virtual fabric changing as you preen for the camera. That all comes courtesy of a special physics engine, while the app itself was written in C# along with Microsoft's XNA tools. Arbuzz, the group that dreamed this up, says the project's still a work in progress, though we can see this, too, being used to relieve those of who are allergic to shopping malls. Until then, you'll just have to settle for watching some other guy work a knee-length skirt.

Continue reading Kinect app promises you'll wear flowery skirts, and you'll like it (video)

Kinect app promises you'll wear flowery skirts, and you'll like it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arArbuzzaugmentedaugmented realityAugmentedRealityCclothesclothingconceptexperiencegesturegesture controlGestureControlgesturesKinectKinect hackKinectHackvideoVirtual Dressing Roomvirtual realityVirtualDressingRoomVirtualRealityXNAFri, 08 Jul 2011 23:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Quadrocopters reined in by Kinect leash, we feel safer already]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/quadrocopters-reined-in-by-kinect-leash-we-feel-safer-already/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/quadrocopters-reined-in-by-kinect-leash-we-feel-safer-already/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/04/quadrocopters-reined-in-by-kinect-leash-we-feel-safer-already/#comments Kinect controlled quadrocopter It seems like the folks over at the Flying Machine Arena are finally starting to catch on -- those quadrocopters are going to kill us all. Thankfully, after teaching them to juggle and tap out some tunes, the researchers came to their senses and put the flying machines on a Kinect-controlled leash. Instead of flitting about autonomously, the four-rotored nightmares are directed by a puppeteer waving his hands. Movement is controlled by the right hand, while raising the left one tells the copter to do a little flip for its master's amusement, and a commanding clap makes it sit down like a good little pup. Best of all, if you don't give it any arm-waving instruction it just hovers and waits until you tell it otherwise. On further consideration, maybe we haven't been creating our own murderers, but a new man's best friend -- after all, they don't eat much and can't chew up your remotes. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Quadrocopters reined in by Kinect leash, we feel safer already

Quadrocopters reined in by Kinect leash, we feel safer already originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbotsflying machineflying machine arenaflying machinesFlyingMachineFlyingMachineArenaFlyingMachineskinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHacksquadrocopterquadrocoptersquadrotorrobotrobotsvideoMon, 04 Jul 2011 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect / iPad hack should help you get Obi-Wan's attention (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/kinect-ipad-hack-should-help-you-get-obi-wans-attention-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/kinect-ipad-hack-should-help-you-get-obi-wans-attention-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/kinect-ipad-hack-should-help-you-get-obi-wans-attention-vide/#comments You know the old story, right? You come into possession of plans for the Empire's moon-sized space station, and now they've come to capture you. What to do? Well, if you've got access to a Kinect, an iPad, and the String SDK, you're in luck. The folks at LAAN Labs demonstrated a nifty little hack that can turn 3D data recorded using the Xbox 360 peripheral into a Princess Leia-esque augmented reality image playable on the Apple tablet. Check the video below -- unless you're a scruffy-looking nerf herder, that is.

Continue reading Kinect / iPad hack should help you get Obi-Wan's attention (video)

Kinect / iPad hack should help you get Obi-Wan's attention (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleaugmented realityAugmentedRealityipadkinectkinect hackKinectHackstar warsStarWarsvideoxbox 360Xbox360Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect Graffiti creates neon tags with the wave of a hand (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/kinect-graffiti-creates-neon-tags-with-the-wave-of-a-hand-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/kinect-graffiti-creates-neon-tags-with-the-wave-of-a-hand-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/kinect-graffiti-creates-neon-tags-with-the-wave-of-a-hand-video/#comments Kinect Graffiti Are you tired of Kinect hacks yet? We didn't think so -- good thing too 'cause we're not done bringing 'em to you. The latest one to hit our tips box comes from designer Jean-Christophe Naour (Innoiz Interactive), a 3D light-painting program he calls Kinect Graffiti. While calling the results "graffiti" might be a little misleading (Naour isn't exactly bombing virtual walls) it does whip up some nice streaky neon images that can capture the act of tagging, if not the final product. We won't waste any more of your time with our rambling -- a picture is worth a thousand words, and the video after the break is composed of over 4,000 of those. Don't miss the flood of photos at the more coverage link either.

Continue reading Kinect Graffiti creates neon tags with the wave of a hand (video)

Kinect Graffiti creates neon tags with the wave of a hand (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dartjean-christophe naourJean-christopheNaourkinectkinect graffitikinect hackkinect hacksKinectGraffitiKinectHackKinectHackslight paintingLightPaintingmotion controlledMotionControlledvideoxboxxbox 360Xbox360Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest Kinect hack: a grocery cart that loyally follows disabled shoppers (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/newest-kinect-hack-a-grocery-cart-that-loyally-follows-disabled/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/newest-kinect-hack-a-grocery-cart-that-loyally-follows-disabled/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/05/newest-kinect-hack-a-grocery-cart-that-loyally-follows-disabled/#comments
Microsoft's Kinect is the gift that keeps on giving for hackers, spawning everything from glasses-free teleconferencing to Tesla coil manipulation to uh, well, Android dance parties. But Luis de Matos's wi-Go project is one of the most socially conscious we've seen: it adds a laptop and (despite its name) a Kinect to a shopping cart, enabling the cart to follow a wheelchair user. Improving on the B.O.S.S. bot we saw a half-decade ago, the wi-Go could allow anyone -- including the disabled or elderly -- to shop independently, regardless of physical capability. De Matos doesn't offer many technical details, but see the video above for a before-and-after demonstration.

Newest Kinect hack: a grocery cart that loyally follows disabled shoppers (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 02:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhacksKinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHacksLuis de MatosLuisDeMatosMicrosoftMicrosoft KinectMicrosoftKinectmodmodsresearchresearchersvideowi-GoSun, 05 Jun 2011 02:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/kinect-hack-turns-your-living-room-into-a-crazy-one-man-laser-te/#comments Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy laser techno dance party We've seen it aid surgery, help make smarter robots, and even do some gaming stuff, but honestly, what good is a controller if it can't fuel your crazy techno dance parties? Vimeo user Matt "Namethemachine" Davis posted a video showing a new hack for the peripheral, using its camera-based motion detection, combined with Ableton Live, DMX protocol, and more clever hackery to create a one-man electro-laser light show. It's easy to see this getting a bit out of control real fast in a room packed with overexcited club goers, but if you're looking to recreate the communal experience for you and your cat in your one bedroom apartment, this may be just the ticket.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video)

Kinect hack turns your living room into a crazy one-man laser techno dance party (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ableton liveAbletonLivedancedmxdrum machineDrumMachinehackkinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHackslaserlasersmatt davisMattDavisnamethemachinevideoxboxxbox 330Xbox330Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers hack Kinect for glasses-free 3D teleconferencing (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/researchers-hack-kinect-for-glasses-free-3d-teleconferencing-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/researchers-hack-kinect-for-glasses-free-3d-teleconferencing-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/researchers-hack-kinect-for-glasses-free-3d-teleconferencing-vi/#comments

Since the dawn of Kinect hacking, we've seen cameras strung together (or rotated) to create 3D, video game-like environments, while others have tweaked it for headtracking. Others, still, have used it for teleconferencing (albeit, the flat, two-dimensional variety). Now, a team of researchers have gone and thrown it all together to achieve 3D video chats, and if we do say so, the result is greater than a sum of its parts. The group, based out of UNC-Chapel Hill, uses 3D mapping (and at least four Kinects) to render the video, and then employs headtracking on the receiving end so that people tuning in will actually see the live video in 3D, even without wearing 3D glasses. The result: a tableau that follows you as you move your head and spin around restlessly in your desk chair waiting for the meeting to end. That's mighty impressive, but we can't help but wonder: do you really want to see your colleagues in such lifelike detail? Have a gander at the video and decide for yourself.

Researchers hack Kinect for glasses-free 3D teleconferencing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3Dglasses-freeglasses-free 3DGlasses-free3dhackhacksKinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHacksMicrosoftMicrosoft KinectMicrosoftKinectresearchresearchersteleconferenceTeleconferencingUNCUNC-Chapel HillUnc-chapelHillvideoThu, 02 Jun 2011 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: Androidify avatar dance party (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/visualized-androidify-avatar-dance-party-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/visualized-androidify-avatar-dance-party-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/visualized-androidify-avatar-dance-party-video/#comments
Have your YouTube dance videos been lacking something? Can't quite put your finger on it? How 'bout another, more Android-y you to add some diversity to your One, Two Step? The folks who brought you the Androidify app have apparently enlisted a friend, his Android avatar, and a Kinect to bring you the above video. Not too shabby, but we'd be even more intrigued if he was rocking a black leotard and busting out Mexican Breakfast, Beyonce-style. Check out the not-so-Fosse video after the break.

[Thanks, John]

Visualized: Androidify avatar dance party (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Android appAndroidAppandroidifyandroidify appandroidify kinect hackAndroidifyAppAndroidifyKinectHackappappsdancedancingdancing androiddancing droidDancingAndroidDancingDroidhackKinectKinect hackKinectHackLarva LabsLarvaLabsMicrosoft KinectMicrosoftKinectThomas GaynoThomasGaynovideoTue, 24 May 2011 21:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Hacked Kinect duo teams up with HD projector to make 360 Snowglobe display (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/hacked-kinect-duo-teams-up-with-hd-projector-to-make-360-snowglo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/hacked-kinect-duo-teams-up-with-hd-projector-to-make-360-snowglo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/hacked-kinect-duo-teams-up-with-hd-projector-to-make-360-snowglo/#comments
Flatscreen displays? Decidedly old hat; students from Queens University have a better idea: snowglobes. Hacking together a 3D HD projector, two Kinect sensors, and a hemispherical mirror mounted inside of an acrylic sphere, "Project Snowglobe" has created a pseudo holographic display -- presenting a 360-degree view of a digital object. The all-angles display is compelling, but it's strictly a single-user affair; the object isn't actually projected in 3D -- it instead follows the movements of a lone Earthling, rotating and shifting position, in sync with the viewer. The display standard of the future? Maybe not, but pretty darn cool, all the same. Hit up the video after the break to check it out.

Continue reading Hacked Kinect duo teams up with HD projector to make 360 Snowglobe display (video)

Hacked Kinect duo teams up with HD projector to make 360 Snowglobe display (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 May 2011 07:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d projector3dProjectorbody trackingBodyTrackingeye trackingeye-trackingEyeTrackingholographickinectkinect hackKinectHackprojectorqueens universityQueensUniversitysnowglobevideoThu, 19 May 2011 07:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack enables psychedelic acupressure, far-out graphics (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/kinect-hack-enables-psychedelic-acupressure-far-out-graphics-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/kinect-hack-enables-psychedelic-acupressure-far-out-graphics-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/kinect-hack-enables-psychedelic-acupressure-far-out-graphics-v/#comments We've seen the Kinect do some pretty wild stuff, but this "Kinected Massage" thing might just take the cake. Jason Stephens, massage therapist and grad student, has employed the ever-expanding power of Microsoft's Kinect in combination with a video projector to create "flow fields" that follow his hands on a client's body while he performs a massage. Stephens describes the process as a "technologically mediated healing modality," and while we're not sure that the Kinect actually contributes much to the relaxation process, it does make for some pretty trippy graphics. Hop on past the break and expand your mind, man.

Continue reading Kinect hack enables psychedelic acupressure, far-out graphics (video)

Kinect hack enables psychedelic acupressure, far-out graphics (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acupressurebeautyhackhealthIntelligent healing spacesIntelligentHealingSpacesjason stephensJasonStephensKinectKinect hackkinect massageKinectHackKinectMassagemassagevideovirtual acupressureVirtualAcupressurewellnessSat, 14 May 2011 05:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/augmented-reality-tetris-game-uses-kinect-hack-wiimote-smooth/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/augmented-reality-tetris-game-uses-kinect-hack-wiimote-smooth/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/21/augmented-reality-tetris-game-uses-kinect-hack-wiimote-smooth/#comments What does it take for a gaming classic to survive in a world ruled by titles like Portal 2 and Homefront? A Kinect hack, a Wiimote, and some electronic elbow grease, apparently. Trinity College student Keysosaurus -- as he's know to his YouTube pals -- has used a bit of C#, XNA, and OpenNI coding to play 3D augmented reality Tetris using Kinect body controls and a Wiimote. The Kinect gestures do most of the work, rotating the board, zooming the camera in and out, and moving the pieces into place, while the Nintendo controller is used to rotate. Video's after the break, but beware, the familiar strains of "Korobeiniki" have been replaced by smooth guitar jazz, so turn the volume up at your own risk.

Continue reading Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video)

Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>araugmented realityAugmentedRealitydiydublinDublin IrelandDublinIrelandhackhackinghacksjazzkinectkinect hackkinect-hacksKinectHackMicrosoftnintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiismooth jazzSmoothJazzTetrisTrinity CollegeTrinityCollegevideoWiiWiimoteWiimoteHackxbox 360Xbox360youtubeThu, 21 Apr 2011 10:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/#comments As souvenirs go, a miniature replica of yourself -- striking a pose of your choosing on Barcelona's La Rambla street -- is a far sight more original than a bullfights-and-senoritas snow globe. This past January, the hilariously titled BlablabLAB enlisted three Kinects and a RapMan 3.1 to snap passersby and render them into personalized tchotchkes, in a project called Be Your Own Souvenir. Subjects stood atop a small platform, mimicking the human statues on La Rambla, as the Kinects captured their likeness in full 360-degree glory. The resulting images were then processed as a mesh reconstruction, saved as a G-code file, and then fed through a 3D printer -- and voila, out popped the tiny statuettes. If you're a fan of flashy editing and Kinect-based street experiments, check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video)

Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3D printing3D rendering3D souvenir3dPrinter3dPrinting3dRendering3dSouvenirBarcelonabe your own souvenirBeYourOwnSouvenirBlablabLABCNCcomputer numerical controlComputerNumericalControlhackhacksawkinectkinect hackkinect-hacksKinectHackMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectRepRapReprapPrintersounvenirstreet performanceStreetPerformancevideoTue, 05 Apr 2011 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Man steers R/C car with his hands, not to mention an HTML5-based web app (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/man-steers-r-c-car-with-his-hands-not-to-mention-an-html5-based/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/man-steers-r-c-car-with-his-hands-not-to-mention-an-html5-based/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/03/man-steers-r-c-car-with-his-hands-not-to-mention-an-html5-based/#comments
With the right Arduino board, an R/C race car, a couple paperclips and the MacGyver spirit, we imagine most anyone can hack together a creative remote control these days... but how many can open-source an HTML5 web app that'll do the deed from any tablet, phone or PC? Gaurav Manek crafted just such a thing, and he'll demonstrate it for you on an Apple iPad in the video immediately above. What's more, he's also got a Kinect hack that uses Microsoft depth camera (with Code Laboratories' NUI SDK) to control the very same with the wave of a well-placed hand -- we're already envisioning fisticuffs should he and a lab partner try for some head-to-head racing action. That said, you don't need to wait for an illustrious creator to have all the fun. Why not download his source code at our links below and give it a go yourself?

Man steers R/C car with his hands, not to mention an HTML5-based web app (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplearduinoDIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfGaurav ManekGauravManekhackhacksHTMLHTML5iPadKinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHacksMicrosoftmodmodsNUIopen sourceOpenSourcercremoteremote controlremote control carremote controlledRemoteControlRemoteControlCarRemoteControlledsource codeSourceCodevideoSun, 03 Apr 2011 14:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect quadrocopter gets a new mission: 3D mapping (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/kinect-quadrocopter-gets-a-new-mission-3d-mapping-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/kinect-quadrocopter-gets-a-new-mission-3d-mapping-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/kinect-quadrocopter-gets-a-new-mission-3d-mapping-video/#comments

In the future, our flying robot overlords won't just navigate terrain autonomously, they'll also report back to base with detailed 3D maps of everything they've seen -- or at least that's what this homebuilt UAV does in a video released this week. In a nutshell, MIT's combined its room-mapping Roomba with the Kinect quadrocopter radar developed at UC Berkeley, resulting in a flying contraption sure to be the envy of topographers everywhere. We're not sure that the world's robot incumbents will be too happy, though -- perhaps MIT should invest in some laser protection next.

Kinect quadrocopter gets a new mission: 3D mapping (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If your foremost dream is to jack into a dystopian cyberpunk reality where hackers play with human brains (and you also happen to love Japanese anime), you'd best book your flight to Tokyo right now -- a Shibuya department store has set up a basic cyberspace simulator straight out of Ghost in the Shell. That's the film Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society, to be precise, which just got a stereoscopic 3D re-release in Japan this week, and in its honor creative services company Kayac set about constructing a high-quality Kinect hack. Microsoft's depth camera tracks the lean of your body, while the honeyed virtual reality is projected onto a pair of nearby walls, and it's your objective to slap the Tachikoma tank silly without falling over yourself. Get a peek at what it's like to play with in the video above.

Kinect dives into anime cyberspace, dares you to catch cute robot tanks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyberpunkdepth cameraDepthCameragamegamingGhost in the ShellGhostInTheShellgitshackhackskinectkinect hackkinect hacksKinectHackKinectHacksmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmodmodstachikomavideovirtual realityVirtualRealityWed, 30 Mar 2011 20:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect meets a Pufferfish display, produces wonderfully creepy all-seeing eye (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/kinect-meets-a-pufferfish-display-produces-wonderfully-creepy-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/kinect-meets-a-pufferfish-display-produces-wonderfully-creepy-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/kinect-meets-a-pufferfish-display-produces-wonderfully-creepy-a/#comments As Kinect hacks go, this one's not going to bowl you over with its technical complexity, but the effect of what it does is quite dramatic. One of Microsoft's sensor-rich, camera-laden Xbox accessories has been repurposed to communicate with a Pufferfish spherical projection display -- via the magic of WPF and openni -- with its motion tracking algorithms serving to control the image on the giant ball. Naturally, the first thing the tweakers behind this mod thought up was a Tolkien-inspired eye that follows people around the room. Sadly, the single Kinect box isn't enough to provide 360-degree coverage, but it's probably just a matter of time until they splice an array of them together and creep us out completely. Video after the break.

Update: You asked for the eye of Sauron and now you've got it. Second video added after the break.

Continue reading Kinect meets a Pufferfish display, produces wonderfully creepy all-seeing eye (video)

Kinect meets a Pufferfish display, produces wonderfully creepy all-seeing eye (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eye of sauronEyeOfSauronhackkinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmotionmotion cameramotion detectionmotion trackingMotionCameraMotionDetectionMotionTrackingopennipufferfishpufferfish displayPufferfishDisplaysauronspheresphericalvideowpfFri, 18 Mar 2011 04:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hacked to control Tesla coils from a safe distance (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/kinect-hacked-to-control-tesla-coils-from-a-safe-distance-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/kinect-hacked-to-control-tesla-coils-from-a-safe-distance-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/kinect-hacked-to-control-tesla-coils-from-a-safe-distance-video/#comments

Just how does one come up with the bright idea to control Tesla coils with a Microsoft Kinect? In a pub, of course.

Kinect hacked to control Tesla coils from a safe distance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bright arcsBrightArcshackkinectkinect hackKinectHackteslatesla coiltesla coilsTeslaCoilTeslaCoilsvideoMon, 14 Mar 2011 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hacked for home automation, does your mood lighting for you (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/kinect-hacked-for-home-automation-does-your-mood-lighting-for-y/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/kinect-hacked-for-home-automation-does-your-mood-lighting-for-y/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/kinect-hacked-for-home-automation-does-your-mood-lighting-for-y/#comments Microsoft's Kinect has become quite the hacking hotbed -- the fields of medicine, music, and even shadow puppeteering have all benefitted from the peripheral's incredible versatility. And now, to the delight of home automation nerds everywhere, an enterprising young hacker has rigged a Kinect to automate the lighting in his home. By positioning the camera bar in a corner to track his movements, connecting it to the automation controller, and coding on / off commands, he's able to control the lights throughout his geektastic domicile. The automation logic then turns on the lights when entering the room, localizes them according to location, and turns them off upon leaving. One less thing to worry about -- here's hoping a method for spotting our perpetually misplaced keys is in version 2.0. Vid's after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hacked for home automation, does your mood lighting for you (video)

Kinect hacked for home automation, does your mood lighting for you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackhackshome automationHomeAutomationkinectkinect hackKinectHackmicrosoftmodmodsmotion captureMotionCapturevideoxbox 360Xbox360Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns Arduino-controlled delta robot into aggressive claw crane (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/kinect-hack-turns-arduino-controlled-delta-robot-into-aggressive/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/kinect-hack-turns-arduino-controlled-delta-robot-into-aggressive/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/07/kinect-hack-turns-arduino-controlled-delta-robot-into-aggressive/#comments Candy crane, teddy picker, claw machine, whatever you call it, this arcade mainstay was robbing children of their golden tokens long before we slid into our first pair of Hammer pants, but despite the changing face of the plush offerings within, the crane game's remained mostly the same. Now a team of students at the Bartlett School of Architecture have produced a Kinect hack that could change the way you drop that claw. The rather temperamental delta robot enlists the ever-hackable peripheral in combination with Processing and Arduino to mimic the movements of a user's arm. As you can tell by the video below, the delta hasn't quite figured out the subtleties of human gestures, but the robot's creators say they intend to implement "several autonomous behaviors" once all the kinks are worked out. Frankly, we'd pay our weight in tokens to see the crane game bite back at an unsuspecting whippersnapper. Video after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns Arduino-controlled delta robot into aggressive claw crane (video)

Kinect hack turns Arduino-controlled delta robot into aggressive claw crane (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcadearcade gamesArcadeGamesarduinoarmautonomousbartlett school of architectureBartlettSchoolOfArchitectureclaw craneclaw gameClawCraneClawGamedeltadelta robotDeltaRobotgamegamesgesturegesture controlledGestureControlGestureControlledgestureshackkinectkinect hackKinectHackprocessingrobotrobot armRobotArmulcuniversity college londonUniversityCollegeLondonvideoMon, 07 Mar 2011 23:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/#comments We've been whittling our likeness into bars of soap for decades, but lucky for us someone's come up with a far easier way to render our flawless good looks in miniature. Following in a long line of inventive Kinect hacks, the folks at Interactive Fabrication have produced a program called Fabricate Yourself that enlists the machine to capture images of users and convert them into 3D printable files. The hack, which was presented at Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction Conference in January, results in tiny 3D models that resemble Han Solo trapped in carbonite and sport jigsaw edges that can be used to make a grid of small, but accurate renderings. Fabricate Yourself is still in its infancy, and the resulting models are relatively short on detail, but we're no less excited by the possibilities -- just think of all the things we could monogram in the time it takes to produce one soapy statuette. Video after the jump.

Continue reading Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece

Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D printer3D printing3d rendering3dPrinter3dPrinting3dRenderingfabricate yourselfFabricateYourselfgameshackhacksInteractive FabricationInteractiveFabricationkinectkinect hackKinectHackMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectprinterprintingvideoWed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft to release Kinect for Windows SDK this spring]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/microsoft-to-release-kinect-for-windows-sdk-this-spring/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/microsoft-to-release-kinect-for-windows-sdk-this-spring/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/microsoft-to-release-kinect-for-windows-sdk-this-spring/#comments
Looks like we're not the only ones enjoying all those Kinect hacks being dreamed up and implemented by hardworking enthusiasts the world o'er. That's right: it was rumored early this year, and now it's been confirmed -- Microsoft will be releasing the Kinect for Windows SDK. According to Microsoft, "It will be available this spring as a free download, and will give academic researchers and enthusiasts access to key pieces of the Kinect system-such as the audio technology, system application programming interfaces and direct control of the Kinect sensor itself." Commercial licensing details will be made available at some point thereafter.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Microsoft to release Kinect for Windows SDK this spring originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect for windowskinect for windows sdkkinect hackkinect sdkKinectForWindowsKinectForWindowsSdkKinectHackKinectSdkmicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectmotion gamingMotion sensingMotionGamingMotionSensingnatalpcproject natalProjectNatalsdksensorsupportwindowswindows 7Windows 8Windows PCWindows7Windows8WindowsPcMon, 21 Feb 2011 15:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns controlling the TV into light aerobic exercise (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/kinect-hack-turns-controlling-the-tv-into-light-aerobic-exercise/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/kinect-hack-turns-controlling-the-tv-into-light-aerobic-exercise/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/kinect-hack-turns-controlling-the-tv-into-light-aerobic-exercise/#comments
Why idly click away at the remote control when you can stop what you're doing, stand up in front of the television, and gesticulate wildly for the same effect? Because it's cool, that's why! Our man Harishankar recently uploaded a YouTube video of himself doing just that, and it's a pretty sweet deal: his Kinect is connected to a Mac mini, which uses OpenNI to detect his skeleton, read certain gestures (punch up to increase volume, punch right or left to change channels, etc.) and send the info to a USB-UIRT box. The latter device, which many of you might have used in your own HTPC projects, connects to your computer's USB port and lets it receive and transmit IR signals. In this case, the computer is sending the gesture controls to the TV. Practical? Maybe not for most of us, but lots of fun nonetheless. Hit the source link to try it for yourself, but not before you peep the video of the thing in action after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns controlling the TV into light aerobic exercise (video)

Kinect hack turns controlling the TV into light aerobic exercise (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diyhackirkinectkinect hackKinectHackOpenNIremote controlRemoteControltelevisiontvusb uirtUsbUirtvideoWed, 16 Feb 2011 02:11:00 EST