2012 is shaping up to be a rather exciting year for Microsoft with Windows 8 on its way, possibly Windows Phone 8 sometime this year, Kinect for Windows, and the chance of an announcement of a next-generation Xbox (if rumors prove correct).
We are gradually seeing a shift away from Microsoft's core focus as a OS company, yes it is still important but multimedia consumption and entertainment through the Xbox and even on the PC is going to become an even bigger affair.
I also suspect that cloud technologies is another great place for growth, outside of the traditional "Windows" line.
On the Kinect front, Microsoft has officially announced that the commercial version of “Kinect for Windows” is on its way sometime early this year.
The PC version will have a few differences in appearance from the Xbox version such as a shorter USB cable and new firmware for 'close up' apps.
According to Microsoft, the Kinect offers PC users (and developers) unique capabilities such as:
■ Skeletal tracking
■ Motion sensing
■ Voice recognition
■ Facial recognition
The Kinect on the PC will be about a lot more than just games with many different industries already picking up on the device for special uses.
For example, the Lakeside Center for Autism has found that the Kinect can be useful for helping children with autism, integrating Kinect's full body play technology into their therapy sessions.
This is just one of the many innovative ways that the Kinect is being used. Other specialty uses will include navigating through MRIs at hospitals and even helping stroke patients.
According to the Kinect Blog, in order to spark innovation and creative through the use of the Kinect, the
BizSpark Kinect Accelerator incubation program will give 10 tech-oriented companies that use Kinect (either Windows or Xbox 36) an investment of $20,000 each and other special benefits.
For those interested, applications are being accepted now through January 25th, 2012.
It is great to finally see the Kinect coming to Windows, and I really believe this is just the beginning.
