Gaming & Culture / Gaming & Entertainment.
Rumbling triggers, infrared night-vision, and a creepy visual heartbeat monitor.
by Kyle Orland - May 22, 2013 1:45 am UTC.
REDMOND, WA—The schedule for today's Xbox event on Microsoft's Redmond campus included time for what was billed as a half-hour "interactive experience." That experience unfortunately did not include a chance to sample any actual gameplay running on Xbox One hardware, but it did include an opportunity to get some time with the new Xbox One handheld controller and revamped Kinect camera.
A group of journalists and I were first taken to one of Microsoft's testing labs to check out the new controller. The main point of this demo was to show off what Microsoft is calling impulse triggers, a term that refers to magnetic motors in both the left and right triggers that add a highly variable rumble directly to your fingertips (which are much more sensitive than the palms of your hands). This is in addition to two more traditional and more powerful rumble motors in both sides of the base of the controller.
These new triggers were shown off in six simple demos that coordinated force feedback with animation on the screen. The demos encompassed an impressive range of rumbling power for the triggers, from the subtle lub-dub of a heartbeat and a gentle laser gun shot to the rat-a-tat of helicopter blades and a powerful car ignition.
It's an odd sensation at first, feeling more like a gentle tickle than the real, powerful force feedback most gamers are used to. The light touch works though, adding a directionality and a level of fine-tuned impact that is lacking from standard controller rumbles. The best way I can describe it is as the touch equivalent of one of those surround sound stereo system demos that adds a sense of motion to sound that once seemed flat and unidirectional.
The most intriguing impulse trigger demo was probably one that combined the more traditional force feedback motors to simulate the rumble of a car engine, then used the impulse triggers to highlight the squealing of brief taps on the brakes. I could see this acting as an important new gameplay cue, outside of sight and sound, that could help add a new level of intuitive response to racing games that's not possible on other systems.
The actual controllers were early prototypes and not final designs, so it was hard to gauge other new controller features like more textured grips on the analog sticks (which we're told are smaller and require 25 percent less force to move than the Xbox 360 controller). The controller did feel more comfortable in my hands, thanks to the lack of a jutting battery pack in the back that can bump against the fingers on the Xbox 360 controller.
The new, plus-shaped d-pad felt perfectly fine on my fingers, although it's hard to gauge for sure how well it works until they let us loose on some fireball motions on an old-school 2D fighter. Microsoft pointed out later that the new controller also has repositioned the seams and screw holes that annoy the fingertips of some Xbox 360 users, but I can't say I really noticed at the time.
A better Kinect.
From there it was on to a demonstration of the new Xbox One Kinect sensor. From the moment we entered the demo room, it was clear how much the new sensor improved on the depth sensing resolution of the old Kinect, just from viewing a live, greyscale 3D model of a couch sitting about seven feet from the sensor (a representative said it was about three times the fidelity of the old Kinect). When a volunteer got up in front of the couch, I could easily make out details, from the ripple of his shirt as it fell on his chest to the individual fingers as he rotated his wrists.
The new Kinect doesn't have the motor that the old unit used to make sure it was pointed perfectly at the room in front of it. Instead, the unmoving slab simply has a much wider field of view that captures substantially more of the room when placed on a level surface. A six-foot tall volunteer was completely visible to the sensor while standing only three or so feet away, based on my rough eyeballing of distances.
The demo then switched to a 1080p live color feed of the room, which was unimpressive on its own to anyone with a decent webcam. What was more impressive was the Active Infrared feed, which showed a night-vision style greyscale view of the room at high resolution, even when the room was pitch black (or only lit by a flashlight). This should help for things like computer vision algorithms, which have previously needed extremely bright and consistent lighting conditions to detect certain details in the flat images provided by the Kinect's RGB camera (and yes, the depth-sensing works in the dark as well).
After a quick demo of how the new Kinect's four-microphone array can filter out distracting sounds from a TV speaker, I jumped in front of the camera to test how the new Kinect's improved skeletal tracking worked. The first thing I noticed was a complete absence of the kind of lag and jumpiness that so often characterized avatars on the original Kinect. The second thing I noticed was the way the on-screen skeleton could detect even small motions like a rotating wrist or a shrugging shoulder.
When the avatar in the demo changed from a skeleton to a thicker person made of blocks, it showed how the new Kinect could easily detect which direction I was looking as I tilted my head at the neck. It can also measure the amount of force being put on either side of the body, Wii Balance Board style, and project the force of a punch or a kick based on the speed of the fist behind it.
The creepiest part of the Kinect demo was when the system used a combination of the RGB and IR cameras to detect my pulse rate just by looking at my face. Not only that, but the system could tell when I was smiling and/or looking away from the screen and tell which of two controllers I was holding, even as I handed one off to the demonstrator (a process the PR rep said worked by "magic").
It's still hard to say whether the new Kinect is truly responsive and high-resolution enough to fulfill the promise of controller-free, motion-based games. Still, the improvements to the raw specs, combined with the fact that literally every Xbox One owner will have a Kinect right out of the box, have us tentatively excited about the potential that developers will be able to squeeze from it.
Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area.
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Windows 10 Camera app now available on Xbox One with Kinect support.
The Anniversary Update is around the corner, and Microsoft already decided to offer users a glimpse into what’s coming to make them even more curious. One of the latest gifts is the UWP Camera app which is now available on the Xbox One. The good news doesn’t end here as the app also supports Kinect.
For the time being, the Windows Camera app for the Xbox One doesn’t allow users to save images and videos, but this feature could soon be available once the Xbox One Summer Update is launched.
Since Microsoft rolled out the UWP Camera app to its Xbox One, it is very likely that the tech giant rolls out other photo and video apps to its console. Microsoft Photos could be one of the apps that will allow Xbox One users to save and edit the photos they took using their console.
Of course, another possibility is that Microsoft is using the current UWP Camera app on the Xbox One only to test how its console behaves when running universal apps. However, if Microsoft decides to remove the app from the Xbox One, users will get very disappointed, and Microsoft is aware of this, therefore is unlikely that the tech giant takes such a decision.
You can get the Camera app by searching for it on the Xbox One Preview, but the app may be unavailable for some users.
Xbox One owners and HoloLens users still need to wait a bit more to get the new features promised by the Anniversary Update. The two platforms run modified versions of Windows 10, which explains why the tech giant needs more time to push the Anniversary Update features to the Xbox One and HoloLens.
Fortunately for Xbox One users, Microsoft rolls out new features from time to time, improving the user experience. For example, Cortana received an update aimed at fixing the issue when the assistant launched other apps when asked to launch TV channels and games.
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Kinect for Xbox One.
OUT OF STOCK.
Voice Commands.
Experience greater convenience and control with Kinect for Xbox One. Navigate your console without lifting a finger. Instantly capture screenshots and game clips. And change TV channels without ever searching for the remote.
Cortana comes to Xbox One.
Everything you love about Cortana on your Windows 10 devices is now on Xbox One. Use "Hey Cortana. " to call up commands. You can even configure your Xbox One to turn on other devices, like your TV, audio/video receiver, and cable/satellite receiver.
Automatic Recognition.
Kinect eliminates the need to manually switch or sign into your Xbox account. Be recognized and signed-in automatically when turning on your console, so you can spend more time gaming.
Connect with Skype and Twitch.
With its 1080p HD camera, Kinect delivers a highly detailed picture, and its microphone array picks out your voice above any other sound in the room, so no one will ever miss a beat. You can even broadcast your gameplay live with picture-in-picture through Twitch.
The best Xbox One experience is with Kinect.
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Xbox Kinect sensor goes X-rated: Device is revealed to detect every part of the anatomy - even parts you might want to keep covered.
Published: 18:09 GMT, 12 November 2013 | Updated: 09:32 GMT, 13 November 2013.
The Xbox Kinect has proven to be extremely good at recognising the human body.
Only last week, a group of Japanese researchers used the sensor to create a device that can translate sign language.
Now one writer has discovered that Kinect can see human anatomy far better than first thought.
Perhaps, a bit too well.
Scroll down for video.
Mr Wilson noted that the Kinect hardware/software was so effective at distinguishing the bumps and folds of clothing that it could pinpoint a man's package.
‘I noticed, alongside the intricacies of a hoodie and jeans--and there’s no graceful way to put this--a dong,’ said Mark Wilson of Fastco Design.
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Mr Wilson noted that the Kinect hardware/software was so effective at distinguishing the bumps and folds of clothing that it could pinpoint a man’s package.
He made the discovery while testing Microsoft's new and improved Kinect sensor which is due to come out on 22 November.
FEATURES ON THE SECOND GENERATION KINECT SENSOR.
Microsoft unveiled its new Kinect sensor as part of its Xbox One event in June.
The sensor will be sold with the new console and both are available from 22 November.
It can read up to six skeletons at once, compared to the current two, and its 'small object detection' is said to be two-and-a-half times better.
The second-generation Kinect sensor is also able to see faces, track eye movements and detect expressions.
It is additionally said to be better at recognising features and body movements in the dark and dimly lit rooms because it uses what's called active infrared (IR).
IR works in a similar way to thermal imaging and is used in night-vision goggles, for example.
As well as the heart rate monitor, Microsoft's sensor has an increased 'field of view' that is now 60 per cent wider than the current Kinect.
The new sensor is also able to see faces, track eye movements and detect expressions.
It is additionally said to be better at recognising features and body movements in the dark and dimly lit rooms because it uses what's called active infrared (IR).
The filming in the above video was done on the Kinect’s topographical view, which is accessible to all gamers but not often used.
‘The new Kinect certainly isn’t malevolent; it’s just engineering that works a bit too well, and is sharing that a half step more socially than we might want it to be,’ said Mr Wilson.
Mr Wilson said that it raises the question of whether Xbox should be censoring some of its images.
‘I’ve learned one thing in 31 years of masculinity, it’s that nobody ever wants to see my placket-racket flopping around in the living room,’ he added.
Microsoft unveiled its new Kinect sensor as part of its Xbox One event in June. The sensor will be sold with the new console and both are available from 22 November.
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Xbox One S.
Mere end 1.300 spil, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ og 4K-videostreaming. Se, det er et stort underholdende tilbud.
Xbox One S.
Bedste spil og underholdning for pengene.
Xbox One S har over 1.300 spilet: blockbustere, populære franchises og Xbox One-eksklusive titler. Spil med venner, brug appe, og få glæde af indbygget 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray™ og 4K-videostreaming.
Suveræn grafik med High Dynamic Range.
Ultra HD Blu-ray™ og videostreaming.
Suveræn lyd med Dolby Atmos- og DTS:X-format.
Den eneste konsol, der er designet til at spille de bedste spil fra fortiden, nutiden og fremtiden.
Spil over 1300 spil lige fra de største blockbustere og mest populære franchises til tre generation af favoritter, du kan spille igen eller opleve for første gang.
Minecraft er spil, hvor det gælder om at placere blokke og drage på eventyr.
Sea of Thieves.
Et eventyrspil i en verden, der deles blandt spillere, og hvor du kan være den pirat, du altid har drømt om.
Super Lucky’s Tale.
"Super Lucky’s Tale" er et skønt platformsspil for alle aldre.
Star Wars™ Battlefront™ II.
Kast dig ud i et uendeligt Star Wars™-actioneventyr.
Fordelene ved HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Oplev flottere farver med større dybde i spil som Gears of War 4 og Forza Horizon 3. HDR-teknologien skaber mere kontrast mellem lyse og mørke områder og giver en suveræn visuel dybde i dine spil.
Fordelene ved HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Oplev flottere farver med større dybde i spil som Gears of War 4 og Forza Horizon 3. HDR-teknologien skaber mere kontrast mellem lyse og mørke områder og giver en suveræn visuel dybde i dine spil.
Flere måder at spille på med Xbox One.
Xbox Game Pass giver dig direkte, ubegrænset adgang til per 100 populære og sjove spil og nye, der tilføjes hele tiden. 1.
Når du ejer et digitalt Xbox Play Anywhere-spil nu, kan du spille det på både Xbox One og Windows 10-pc, uden at det koster ekstra. 2.
Oplev legendariske spilfranchises fra begyndelsen og på tværs af generationer med bagudkompatibilitet. 3.
Se, spil og stream med dine yndlingsstreamere via Mixer, en interaktiv livestreaming-platform til Xbox One.
Xbox One-spil og -tilbehør virker sammen.
Det Xbox One-tilbehør, du har nu (eller har set dig lun på), virker på Xbox One S.*
Det bedste inden for 4K-underholdning.
4K-streaming.
Stream 4K Ultra HD-video på Netflix, Amazon med flere.
Se film med fantastiske detaljer med den indbyggede 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray TM .
Rumlig lyd.
Hør hver en detalje i dine spil og film med suveræn lyd i Dolby Atmos- og DTS: X-format. 4.
Masser af underholdningsapps.
Brug dine favoritapps som YouTube, Spotify og mange flere. 5.
Interager og spil med venner på Xbox Live.
Interager med venner, og find rivaler og holdkammerater i det bedste globale spilcommunity. 6.
Xbox One S-pakker fra kr. 2.199,00.
Den nye Xbox One X.
Verdens kraftigste konsol.
* Omfatter ikke Xbox One S-holderen, der kun virker med Xbox One S. Xbox Kinect Adapter (sælges separat) kræves til Kinect på Xbox One S og Xbox One X.
1. Der kræves et månedligt Game Pass-abonnement, som fortsætter, indtil det opsiges. Udvalget af spil varierer på forskellige tidspunkter. Læs mere på www.xbox.com/game-pass.
2. Kravene til pc-hardware kan variere for spil på Windows 10.
3. Funktionen Xbox One Bagudkompatibilitet kan benyttes med udvalgte Xbox 360-spil. Se www.xbox.com/backcompat. Xbox Live og bredbåndsforbindelse kræves for at downloade spillet til konsollen.
4. Dolby Atmos for Headphones kræver tilkøb fra Microsoft Store.
5. Til nogle apps skal du have specifikke abonnementer hos appudbyderen og/eller opfylde andre krav. Se www.xbox.com/live.
6. Online multiplayer kræver et Xbox Live Gold-abonnement (sælges separat).
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