Rumor: Kinect 2 to read lips, make french fries, soak up nasty spills

by Richard Mitchell on Nov 28th 2011 12:23PM

If sources close to Eurogamer are to be believed, Microsoft has some pretty lofty plans for the next iteration of Kinect. According to said sources, the "Kinect 2" will not only offer improved motion tracking and voice recognition, but will also be capable of all kinds of technical wizardry. Apparently, the as yet unannounced device will be able to read lips, detect the direction a player is facing and recognize his or her emotional state. If your current emotional state is "a little freaked out," we're right there with you.

According to the source, the new device will not utilize USB and thus won't be hampered by its relatively antiquated data speeds – a limitation of the current Kinect model. This will allow for the "phenomenally high res data" needed for the previously mentioned features (and perhaps others, presumably). In other words, Dance Central 3 may be able to objectively determine whether players are, in fact, too legit to quit.

Source: Eurogamer

Tags: kinect, kinect-2, microsoft, xbox

Reader Comments (70)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSRxrO7ya4Q

That is all.

@The Pork

No sir, THIS is all:

youtu.be/qHL2Cpb1618

They are finally turning the prototype into a product now? I hope it comes in purple.

Great. Hopefully it's not the sole interface of the next Xbox because I really prefer the Xbox controller over the DualShock and don't want to have to switch because Microsoft is trying to pull a Nintendo.

@jsx92

You are everything that is wrong in gaming today.

@jsx92 I agree with you completely. I prefer a physical controller over the ridiculous motion gaming fad of the past few years.

@Co No, you are.

@Co

Actually he is right on the money. There is nothing wrong with adding options to gaming but drastic changes that force on to learn a new format, when the changes aren't flawless is idiotic. If there was nothing but waggle control on your beloved Wii, it would have been an utter failure. It still is in my eyes, selling well for its low price point at the start.

@Negatron like the switch to analog? it was far from flawless and didnt really take off until this current generation.

lol then again it's no mouse and keyboard.

you can go so many directions with this motion control era of gaming.

@Co
This

Does this mean that the Kinect 2 will become self-aware at some point in time?

It won't be Skynet that will cause Judgement day, but rather Microsoft.

@Ryguy226 We can only hope. I mean, we can all picture a scenario where humanity is saved at the last second when MS Skynet blue screens just when it's about to launch the nuclear holocaust.

@dan828 The 1990s called asking could they have their cliché back.

@carbonize

The 00's called. They want their joke back.

@Ryguy226 Does it come with Bonzi Buddy?

Oh gawd, it's gonna watch me Wii!

Is "horny" an "emotional state"?

@A Sandwich

Only with females.

@A Sandwich

During a game of video Uno:

A Sandwich uses: Boner

No effect!

Audience uses: report TOS violation

It's super effective!

Your account has been terminated!

COTY. That's comment of the year, folks.

It's going to have to do more than that for me to buy it. It better scoop ****, too, because the first version is just that: a steaming pile of ****.

Really getting tired of all the hype.

@(Unverified) Sounds like someone who doesn't know how to have fun if there ever was one or does the idea of actually having to get off your arse to play a game bring you out in a sweat?

@carbonize No. See, I want something that works with games I actually PLAY. Not Dance, Dance Revolution or WTF-ever kid\lemming games this POS interfaces with.

If I want a workout, I'll do something that actually breaks a sweat. Got it?

I think MS views Kinect more as they would view a standard computer, where there aren't any definitive iterations, just subtle improvements over the years.

They won't call it Kinect 2, especially with Windows integration coming.

Sup, Telescreens.

Cooking Momma Kinect?

She helped me make an Omelette on the DS so now she'll be able to see my confused expression and help me understand better what i need to do

I think this says it all.

http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/06/05

As long as:
a) You can play from a range of about 4 feet away from the sensor.
b) Enough titles support it.
Then I'll be happy to get one for the next-gen Xbox to use in addition to a regular controller.

@Blizzard - Honestly, I don't think you'll have a choice but to get one if you get a next gen Xbox. I think it'll be included with the system.

@Blizzard They've already said the one they are releasing for Windows will have a closer range on it so I think this one definitely will.

This better be way off since this thing is literally like 1 year old. Let's not talk about new hardware while the body is still warm, so to speak. I don't want to be pissed about my decision to buy two of these in a year if there's a revision right around the corner.

@baby sea tuna

I see your point, but any savvy Joystiq person such as yourself could see the Kinects latency and assume a newer one would be in order. The question is when?

@baby sea tuna
Ever hear of an iPhone?

@Negatron

Oh, of course, I'd always assumed there'd be another/better one coming in the future... I'm just not quite ready to *hear* that there's another/better one coming in the future.

@xreadmore if MS goes the Apple route with yearly refreshes on their console and other hardware, they will be losing customers left and right. People are already talking trash about having to buy another console in a couple of years, even tho the current gen is going on 7 years old. The techie in me would LOVE to see it....but the consumer in me would hate it.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

Honestly, Apple's yearly iPhone cycle wouldn't bother me nearly enough if A) We weren't held hostage by 2 year phone contracts and B) if there was some sort of buyback/trade-up program for last year's model. But, since people are going to accept and buy into the cycle, there's no reason for them to change.

Part of the reason I jumped ship for WP7, but I'm sure it'll end up business as usual there too.

@baby sea tuna
You're only "held hostage" if you want a cheap phone. Don't want a contract? You can buy an unlocked phone; the iPhone 4s starts at $650.

Correction:

Rumor: Kinect 2 to read lips, make french fries, soak up nasty spills, still not be of any use as a gaming-device

@SuperSci Truth!

read lips?

so how will it be able to tell the difference from "mail" and "bail" ?? even people who have been reading lips for years can't always tell that

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

Don't forget, the Kinect already has a microphone. So this will be another data point to help improve the voice recognition, it won't have to be used exclusively without auditory input.

@NullSpace0 maybe. But I honestly don't see what the point of reading lips is if its going to determine what was said from the Audio anyways.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi - We all read lips to some extent anyway. I remember a test years ago where they recorded video of the man repeatedly saying something like gate and then audio of him saying bait to the same cadence and when you watched it your mind made you think he was saying date.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

Pretty sure they are talking about the technical capabilities of the device, not so much about its application/utility. If it can "read lips, detect the direction a player is facing and recognize his or her emotional state" then it'll be up to game/app devs to utilize or ignore certain features.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
Because it determine better by using both. For instance, if the current voice recognition is 95% accurate (made up number), add in lip reading to disambiguate (and to help differentiate when 2 or more people are talking at once) and maybe it gets up to 99% (made up number).

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi
If Kinect 2 is sophisticated enough to read lips, its not a stretch to say it can read eye movement at some point.

Eye tracking people, eye tracking.

We all knew it was coming. I was glad to put money behind the original to see what came of it. and I'll probably buy this one too if it's the serious upgrade that we all hope it's going to be.

I can see workout games getting brutal.
Kinect2: Really ***hole? We spent 10 min doing exercises and now you are sitting on your fat a** playing MW3 and eating a pizza. A WHOLE PIZZA. I can see the grease dripping down your face and the tears in your eyes from the guilt you hold.

@(Unverified)
T~T yes master Kinect... i know not what is best for i am a weak mortal

I'm a bit skeptical about whether or not a revision of Kinect will actually be produced. The original isn't exactly setting the world on fire. But then again neither did the stupid Tony Hawk game with the skateboard and there was still a sequel to it so maybe Microsoft will give it another shot.

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Rumor: Kinect 2 to read lips, make french fries, soak up nasty spills

Reader Comments (70)

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:26PM The Pork said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:23PM NaeemTHM said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:29PM Eniko said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:32PM jsx92 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:37PM Co said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:49PM Calatia said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:50PM Calatia said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:51PM Negatron said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:17PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 29th 2011 9:06AM Grimbear13 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:32PM Ryguy226 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:53PM dan828 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:15PM carbonize said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:58PM The Scout said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 5:03PM Design by Adrian said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:33PM foxhound said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:33PM A Sandwich said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:38PM Co said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:31PM jackal said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:43PM Electrium said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:36PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:17PM carbonize said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 7:17PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:37PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:40PM pabloshong said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:41PM gwangi said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:44PM Blizzard said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:03PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:20PM carbonize said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:46PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:58PM Negatron said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:05PM xreadmore said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:07PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:10PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:15PM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:34PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:49PM SuperSci said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:50PM Calatia said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:53PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:08PM NullSpace0 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:28PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:24PM carbonize said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 2:24PM Truant said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 3:46PM NullSpace0 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 4:08PM Fermie Prime said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 12:56PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:02PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:09PM Roxas560 said

Posted: Nov 28th 2011 1:05PM baddates77 said

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