Tag: Kinect

In the near future, you may be able to make yourself speak in any language, or have video proof of your friend saying he loves to eat poop. It’s all thanks to a new tracking and animation system that can transfer the facial movements of one person into a photorealistic CGI rendering of another person’s face, all in real time.

Microsoft Research’s Shahram Izadi and Philip Torr of the University of Oxford have come up with an intuitive way of teaching computers the names of objects while simultaneously creating 3D models of said objects. Their SemanticPaint system learns the names of objects by simple voice commands and can then automatically identify similar objects.

Hydrographics or water transfer printing lets you apply graphics to objects in one pass. It gives a uniform finish and can be used even with large objects. And watching it is a great timewaster. But it’s not ideal for items with complex shapes, and it can be used to apply only graphics with repeating patterns, because it’s hard to align the film that holds the pattern with the substrate object.

Fans who make Portal recreations usually resort to mirrors and simple perspective tricks to simulate the game’s space-warping effect. But software designer Roland Smeenk’s setup actually creates windows to another space. You still can’t walk into them though.

If you liked using the Wii, the PlayStation Move or the Kinect, keep an eye on The Realm System. Like the Wii and PS Move, it has a pair of handheld motion controllers but it also has rubber resistance bands that are tied to a waist strap.

Microsoft has announced that it is taking pre-orders for developers who want to get their hands on the second-generation Kinect for Windows device. The software giant plans to start shipping the new device next week. Reports from developers working with the new device say that it is improved compared to the original.

Microsoft’s Xbox division has been forced to swallow its words three times in the span of two years. They warned us that the Xbox One would require a persistent Internet connection – among other things – but they quickly removed their restrictions after getting a lot of negative feedback.

The latest update for the Xbox One game console began rolling out this week. The update is bringing with it several new features that will improve the console and make it better for owners. The update includes changes to game and app saves with a new progress bar.

Pool tables come in hundreds of different styles, but if you really want to make your setup unique, check out OpenPool. It’s an augmented reality system that lets you project visual effects on the bed that react to the motion of the balls.

Earlier this year we learned about Twinkind, a 3D printing shop that makes personalized figurines. Its products are highly detailed, but it has two drawbacks: the figurines are expensive and you have to go to Germany to be scanned.

The touchscreen and app combo of today’s mobile devices makes one gadget act as many. Different apps display different interfaces, and the touchscreen lets you interact with those interfaces in a natural manner. But what if, aside from changing what you can see, your gadget’s display could also change its shape?

Microsoft has one heck of an item for zealous Xbox fans and videogame collectors. The company has donated a very special edition of the Xbox One to UK charity GamesAid. The special next generation console, which is called the Xbox One White Exclusive Launch Team Commemorative Special Edition, is now up for grabs on eBay.

Nowadays it’s quite possible to create and play music live using a computer. You can also use MIDI controllers to make it easier for you to interact with music software and audio files. However, pushing keys and fiddling with knobs isn’t intuitive or fun to watch.

As much as I think the Kinect is a cool device, I have to say I don’t play many Xbox 360 games that use it. However, this interactive concept being shown off in Japan is something I’d definitely want to try.

If you had your eye on Ubi Interactive’s multitouch software, you’ll be glad to now that it’s now on sale. For those unfamiliar with the product, sit back and relax. I’ll take you to a world where any surface can become a touchscreen.

The original Paperboy was ahead of its time. While other arcade games in the 80s featured spaceships or medieval warriors, Paperboy only had, well, a paperboy. So it’s fitting that this homage to the game uses cutting edge technology.