Kinect

"This is a pivotal moment that will carry with it a wave of change, the ripples of which will reach far beyond videogames" - Steven Spielberg

Previously code-named "Project Natal," the slim black Kinect sensor plugs directly into any Xbox 360. Despite its small size, the Kinect device contains a camera, audio sensors, and motion-sensing technology that tracks 48 points of movement on the human body. It has the ability to recognize faces and voices.

With Kinect, game-players no longer need to memorize different commands for a hand-held control. You are the controller, simply step in front of the sensor and Kinect sees you move, hears your voice and recognizes your face.

Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways - no controller required. Easy to use and instantly fun, Kinect gets everyone off the sofa moving, laughing and cheering. See a ball? Kick it. Control an HD movie with a wave of the hand. Want to join a friend in the fun? Simply jump in. With Kinect, technology evaporates, letting the natural magic in all of us shine. And the best part is Kinect works with every Xbox 360.

With the Kinect sensor, you can experience gaming like never before. Easy to use and fun for everyone, the Kinect sensor utilizes revolutionary full-body tracking to put you in the center of the fun. This amazing new technology allows the sensor to recognize your body and mirror your movements in the game, making you the controller. The sensor is compatible with every Xbox 360 and comes with a Kinect game. With Kinect Xbox 360 now has the best controller ever made - you.

You are the Controller - Introducing Kinect, a revolutionary new way to play: no controller required! See a ball? Kick it, hit it, trap it or catch it. Unlike 2D cameras and controllers, Kinect tracks your full body movement in 3D, while responding to commands, directions, even a difference of emotion in your voice.

Personalised Play - Kinect provides an in-game experience in which the player's face and voice are recognised. Greet and speak to characters in the game, or simply step into view of the sensor to log into Xbox LIVE and connect with friends. Only Kinect is smart enough to remember voices and faces. Fun has never been so personalised.

Off-The-Couch Play - Kinect provides gameplay that gets you off the couch, on your feet and in the fun. Each Kinect experience is designed to get players moving, laughing, cheering and playing together. Kinect makes social gaming off-the-couch fun.

Controller-free gaming and entertainment. Kinect provides a whole new way to play - no controller required. It uses a sensor to track your body movement and recognise your face, even listen to your voice. If you know how to move your hands, shake your hips, or speak, you and your friends will be able to jump instantly into any Kinect experience.

Full-body play. Kinect provides a new way to play where you use all parts of your body - head, hands, feet and torso. With controller-free gaming you don't just control the superhero, you are the superhero. Full-body tracking allows the Kinect sensor to capture every move, from head to toe, to give players a full-body gaming experience.

Easy-to-play fun. Kinect makes sharing in the fun a snap. Talk or watch a movie in the same living room or on the other side of the world - no headset, no keyboard and no controllers required. It's just you, your friends, your family and a whole new way to play.

Control your Xbox 360 with a single gesture or wave of the hand

Get off the sofa and into the game by using your body as the controller

Connect with friends and family with easy and interactive gameplay, video chat and more (requires Xbox LIVE Gold membership)

Revolutionary technology that includes body recognition.

Works alongside your Xbox 360 controller to enhance your entertainment

Works with every Xbox 360 (Requires 175MB of memory)

Here are the Kinect technical specifications in full:

Sensor

Colour and depth-sensing lenses

Voice microphone array

Tilt motor for sensor adjustment

Field of View

Horizontal field of view: 57 degrees

Vertical field of view: 43 degrees

Physical tilt range: 27 degrees

Depth sensor range: 1.2m - 3.5m

Data Streams

320x240 16-bit depth @ 30 frames/sec

640x480 32-bit colour@ 30 frames/sec

16-bit audio @ 16 kHz

Skeletal Tracking System

Tracks up to 6 people, including 2 active players

Tracks 20 joints per active player

Ability to map active players to Xbox LIVE Avatars

Audio System

Xbox LIVE party chat and in-game voice chat (requires Xbox LIVE Gold Membership)

Echo cancellation system enhances voice input

Speech recognition in multiple languages

What you get:

Sensor

Power Supply Cable

Kinect game: Kinect Adventures

Manual

Wi-Fi Extension Cable

What you need to use the sensor:

Xbox 360 console

Kinect Ready games

You!