A new version of the popular Kinect device from Microsoft is in the works. A report, citing anonymous sources, is claiming that it will be bundled in future Xbox consoles and is said to be so accurate that it can lip read.
According to EuroGamer, the Kinect 2 will also feature improved motion sensors and voice recognition; and could detect the player’s emotional state by facial expressions and tone of voice. Their source said it is “so powerful it will enable games to lip read, detect when players are angry and determine in which direction they are facing”.
In addition, integration with the Xbox consoles means that it no longer has to rely on a USB cable. While theoretically can support data speeds of 35MB/s, it has been lowered to 15 or 16MB/s because of potential multiple USB devices connected. The Kinect 2’s integration would allow it to feed “more information” and higher resolution images for games to process movements.
“It can be cabled straight through on any number of technologies that just take phenomenally high res data straight to the main processor and straight to the main RAM and ask, what do you want to do with it?” said its source.
The reports are coupled with more rumours of the Kinect being integrated into television sets. Broken by The Daily, their sources are saying that they want to “push the Kinect into as many living rooms as possible, even those without its Xbox 360 gaming systems.” The company is in early discussions with Vizio and Sony (yes, Sony – the makers of the PS3) in licensing their technology.
Coupled with this rumour, it could mean that Microsoft could find a way to facilitate transmitting high-quality images from a proprietary port, or through other means, so it does not have to use a standard USB port.
I’ll leave you to make your own speculations about the Kinect.