Children love Kinect, the motion sensing device for Microsoft Xbox, for it gives them the extra dimension in gaming.
Soon, this gadget would lend a helping to the visually challenged and those who cannot speak. Two small teams at Microsoft have developed two different technologies – Kinectacles and Kinect Bridge, as part of Garage activity.
Garage is an internal activity in Microsoft that allows its staff to come up with innovative Apps and devices based on Microsoft platforms such as Windows Phone, Kinect and Windows 8. Successful Apps can be monetised by placing them in the Windows Phone App market place. About 60 teams presented their innovations.
kinectacles
Mr Rishab Verma said Kinectacles is a pair of glasses that will use power of Kinect in identifying the objects that might confront when a blind person walks around. “Kinect's sensor's picks information as the person moves, processes the info in realtime and warns the person to stop, if need be,” he said at the Garage showcase held at Microsoft India Development Centre on Thursday.
He said this version is a raw one. “We are planning to give extra dimension by incorporating image recognition and Bing maps to the device,” he said.
Kinect Bridge allows the hearing impaired to show hand symbols to chat with peers over computers. The device would pick the symbols, quickly send them to the in-built dictionary, converts the messages into English and transmit to the receiver, Mr Venkatesh, the team leader, said. It took two months for the team to come up with the product.
My Obstetrics
The phone app that attracted attention was My Obstetrics that acted as a companion to the expecting mothers.
Mr Matt Hempey, Senior Principal Solution Manager, said the company would not earn any revenues out of these innovations. “These projects help in influencing thinking. There are several India-specific applications on budgeting and finance too on display.”