Microsoft, today, announced the release of a beta refresh of its Kinect for Windows SDK. This software development kit allows Kinect hobbyists to build applications that utilize the Kinect sensor. The SDK allows users to build applications that use the Kinect on PCs running Windows 7.
This Beta Refresh has numerous driver enhancements (stability fixes to prevent crashes, including those that appear when a PC goes into sleep mode) and run-time enhancements (refinements to a number of APIs, improvements in time-stamping, and the removal of non-functional APIs to alleviate confusion). The documentation and SDK samples were also updated in this refresh.
Not that long ago, we learned that Microsoft Research had big plans for the Kinect platform, especially when it comes to an integration with the Windows operating system. “When we first saw the Kinect it became completely obvious that what we wanted to do was control the universe with our fingertips. We believe that Kinect can be more than just a great platform for gaming and entertainment. It opens up enormous opportunities that span everything from delivering new personal experiences to addressing societal challenges in the fields of healthcare and education.”
