- Image via Wikipedia
The newly launched Microsoft Kinect controller has been hacked just a few days after it was released into the market. The breach concerns a program that makes it possible to use the motion-capture device with a PC instead of the Xbox game console it was originally designed to work with.
Those behind the hack are said to have done so in a bid to use the control system in schools, art projects and in order to aid human-robot interaction. Just last week, electronics kit maker, Adafruit, announced that it would pay $1,000 to the first individual to produce drivers for the Kinect device. The fee was raised to $3,000 and subsequently won by hacker Hector Martin who came up with ‘open-source’ drivers that enabled the Kinect’s motion capture system to work on a Linux machine.
Work is now underway to enable the motion controller work with Windows computers. With its cash contest, Adafruit expects to see the Kinect used in various ways other than gaming for example, in robot interactions and art installations. However, Microsoft is keen to point out that it does not condone unofficial modifications and reverse engineering of its motion controller.
Talking Point
What do you think of the Kinect motion controller?
3 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Pingback: Tweets that mention Kinect Controller 'Hacked'
Henway
November 15, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Pretty smart of Microsoft to not condone this…. if they’re lucky there’ll soon by viral videos posted on YoUTube of people use the Kinect to do all sorts of cool wacky things, sales will only go up.
Kinect
November 23, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I think it’s great. Millions of people will soon have the Kinect so it will motivate some of those developers to use those open source drivers to create application for the Kinect sensor for your PC. Already some people are doing wonderful things with Widows, Linux and it’s only been a few weeks. It’s an extra benefit to having bought a Kinect.