Microsoft’s Kinect Might Finally Find a Home on Phones
Microsoft is desperately trying to find a proper use for Kinect, a motion-sensing device that debuted in 2010. The hardware has yet to show staying power in video games, PCs, or medical applications, but a new series of Windows Phones is looking to introduce an entirely new audience to the wonderful world of Microsoft's motion technology known as 3D Touch by the end of the year.
The phone, code named McLaren, will allow owners to interact with on-screen applications by simply hovering a finger over the screen. Each aspect of the gadget is intended to take advantage of the motion-based ideology—first established on Microsoft’s video-game hardware—in order to simplify the phone’s usability. Sensors will allow calls to be answered by positioning the phone next to your ear, alerts to be ignored by a wave of the hand, and conversations to be muted when the phone is held close to the chest.
With years of research and development already under the company’s belt thanks to previous hardware iterations, McLaren should prove responsive to basic motions.
It could be a challenge to prove the technology’s viability to both consumers and developers, as the Kinect camera itself—which was originally touted as an inseparable piece of Microsoft’s gaming future—has since been removed from the standard Xbox One bundle in favor of a lower price point. However, taking advantage of these innovations on a much smaller scale is a tactic that could pay off in spades.
Microsoft is not without competition, though. Along with industry mainstays such as Apple and HTC, Amazon is looking to enter the increasingly crowded mobile ring with its own 3D-enabled offerings. A recent YouTube video shows how the online commerce company’s phone interface will tilt as you move your head, while Samsung’s current devices allow for simple gestures to change channels, adjust volume, and search on its smart TVs.
If Microsoft is committed to diving into the 3D mobile space, it’s likely that the company knows just how deep the pool has become. Prominent names continue to expand and improve their repertoire as smart devices mature, and while the Windows Phone isn’t exactly the most popular brand on the market, Microsoft is using one of its most unique pieces of tech, the Kinect, to breathe new life into mobile products.
