KINECT 2 IMAGE?

Posted August 10, 2012 by Marykate Clark in News

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)

KINECT 2 ALLEGED FIRST IMAGE LEAKED VIA TWITTER

No, this is not a test to see whether you can pat your head and rub your belly at the same time, tempting as it was to make that assertion. It is allegedly a tracking shot being executed by the Kinect 2, rumored to be in development for the still unofficial next-gen Xbox. The image comes from a tweet sent by DaE (@SuperDaE) who leaked information about the Durango devkit during an attempt last month to sell one online. The devkit has been touted as “the real deal” by Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter, but Microsoft has yet to issue a statement about either of these “leaks.”

If genuine, the tracking image suggests improved depth perception and more detailed body tracking, including identification of fingers, not merely in silhouette, but also with a hand placed in front of the body. Finger-tracking has been a long recognized shortcoming of the current gen Kinect’s abilities. While the silhouettes do not actually indicate clothing recognition, they do potentially show a very clear contrast between player versus environment and a more sharply defined silhouette.

Still, why are no other fingers are delineated? Especially as the person on the right appears to be mirroring the person on the left whose fingers are showing, this image depicts success with one out of four available hands, two of which seem to be fully within view. What of skeletal tracking and the tracking of more than two active players? How is the color gradient (as shown) indicative of significant improvements of depth discernment over the current gen model? How far must one stand relative to the device to be tracked as an active player? Naturally, nothing of the anticipated “improved voice recognition” is hinted at in any way. And finally, this is a still shot, but a key component of Kinect is maintaining connection during movement (kinetic tracking); so how does the tracking hold up during motion?

At this point, it seems to raise more questions than it answers. The first among those questions, of course: Is this latest leak “the real deal?”

As always, we will be sure to update you with anything further as it becomes available. That also goes for the 18-months until Nextbox… the other, other leak. (That’s 3 recent leaks for anyone who’s counting… could be time to call a plumber.)

Original Tweet: