Microsoft Releasing Kinect SDK News

Microsoft has announced that it will release a Kinect software development kit for Windows this spring. Aimed at academic researchers and enthusiast communities, the SDK license will permit the creation of non-commercial software for the motion sensing device.

“Microsoft’s investments in natural user interfaces are vital to our long-term vision of creating computers that are intuitive to use and able to do far more for us,” said Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer, Craig Mundie.

“The fruits of these research investments are manifesting across many of our products, Kinect for Xbox 360 among them.”

The SDK will give coders access to Kinect’s audio and system application-programming interfaces, as well as allowing direct control of the Kinect sensor. Although enterprising hackers have already created a host of original software for the device, the release of a fully supported SDK should mark a substantial increase in Kinect development.

“As breakthrough technologies like these reach scale,” said Mundie, “the resulting creativity and invention will open up a whole new world of possibilities for computing.”

Microsoft plans to release a full commercial SDK at a later date. In the meantime why not check out our comprehensive Kinect buying guide, to find out what’s available for the device right now.