Marking the one year anniversary of the Kinect, Microsoft today said that it would make its motion-sensing add-on for the Xbox 360 available to Windows users in early 2012, opening up the market for the device dramatically. Microsoft sold over 10 million Kinect devices in 60 days a year ago, setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest-selling consumer electronics device in history.
"The Kinect for Windows commercial program will be launched early next year," Microsoft announced. "The commercial program will give businesses the tools to develop applications that not only could improve their own operations, but potentially revolutionize entire industries. To date, more than 200 businesses worldwide—including Toyota, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Razorfish— have joined a Kinect for Windows pilot program to begin exploring the possibilities of Kinect. While no one knows what the future holds, if the past year is any indication, it’s going to be inspiring."
To prove that, sort of, Microsoft has released yet another concept video, this one showing off how Kinect could evolve going forward.
This is cute and everything, but unrealistic: People will not being playing "air violin" or performing "air surgery" with Kinect, sorry.