ASL Features Already Dis-Kinected

I've said many times before that I'm no lover of MS customer service (or lack of it), particularly in the UK.

I did wonder about the logic of developing such a niche peripheral for a console so late in it's life cycle, and from that point of view their logic is justified.

What I cannot fathom is MS's overall attitude that we've seen already before - selling something at a loss. Now, doing so to garner a customer base with a view to further software sales, for example, is a fair strategy. But taking into account the 360, I was speechless at their reasoning in knowingly fitting DVD drives without brakes, knowing full well this would lead to problem with scratched and damaged discs for some users - their attitude? Sod 'em (there are quite a few stories about this, and if you hunt well enough, you'll see the internal memos purporting to this). I won't even mention the RROD, and the way they handled that, until the many class action suits forced them to behave the right way.

Going back a step, one of the things MS used to watch quite closely was attach rates (i.e. the number of games each console owned). That's sensible strategy - if you turn out a console at a loss, you can still reap massive rewards in subsequent software sales. When the Xbox was around, their main rival was the PS2, which had a massive attach rate of 12-15 or more, whereas at that time, the Xbox had 2 - not a way to generate a profit on 2 games per owner. Thankfully for MS, the 360 is faring much better, and if it wasn't for their terrible marketing faux pas I detailed above, they'd be sitting with a much bigger profit.

I digress a little, but going back to the Kinect, why turn out a product (which is a niche product) and then make it so half-baked an idea, and STILL make a loss is beyond me. I can't ever see this item getting a strong enough attach rate to make up for the loss on the sales. Factor in the shorter shelf life (as it being near the end of the console's life) and it seems the cards are stacked heavily against it.

Yes, it does then beg the question of whether Kinect "2.0" will be the real deal, but when you gamble with customer confidence by turning out a lesser product, and then at a loss which is likely to reap little reward, you're pleasing nobody - customers or shareholders.

Something I'd really like to hear from Microsoft (hint hint, Editors) is if this necessarily spells doom for Kinect translation of ASL. Because personally, I don't really think it does.

The camera resolution, despite what has been claimed by numerous tech blogs (starting with Kotaku), isn't a gamebreaking issue. It's 320x240 pixels, so clearly it's not going to be able to accurately distinguish individual figures from across the room. Does that mean you won't be able to stand at the "standard interaction distance" and use ASL as a means of interacting with games? Sure. But there is absolutely *no* reason that it couldn't do the job just fine if the user was much, much closer to the cameras. If the user's hands comprise the bulk of the Kinect's FoV, 320x240 is plenty of definition to do the job.

The way I see it, the problem is entirely software at this point. With the *existing hardware* - i.e. straight out of the box - the Kinect is technologically capable of detecting ASL signs. The only thing missing is the software to actually perform the detection and translation. That means Microsoft has two perfectly viable options in front of them to introduce ASL translation to the Kinect: a) make the application themselves, and release it in a firmware update or as a separate title, or b) allow a third-party to develop and release it as a separate title.

Option A makes the most sense in terms of feasibility, because Microsoft certainly has the resources necessary to crank a recognition and translation application out. However, it would also mean the first "productivity" title for the Xbox, which they may be ill inclined to do. Option B could probably happen right now, because they clearly license the Kinect's SDK to third-party developers already. What could stand in the way, though, is the likelihood that their previously-filed patents give them the exclusive right to develop ASL technology for the platform.

So, if I had the opportunity to speak to Microsoft about the Kinect, I'd ask:
1) Do you really claim that ASL recognition is impossible with the current hardware?
2) Since it actually *isn't*, would you consider developing the software internally?
3) If you won't do this yourself, would you actively stop a third-party firm trying to do it?

I rather suspect that the quality and fps of the camera are limiting factors. The video quality I've seen in demo's was rather pathetic compared to a good (minimal 640x480@30fps) webcam.

Also Kinect is probably calibrated for a certain optimal distance. If it uses fixed focus lenses that would make things even harder. (Since ms skimps on anything it can, and often cannot get away with. This would not surprise me.)

The simple question is: would MS go to all that hassle and expense for what is not the main feature of this device. Also consider the limited added value for the main purpose of a console, e.g. playing games. Sign language also does not offer a real plus in playing back media that I can see. (This is assuming most voice commands have a gesture/button counterpart. Most games will focus on jumping and moving, not talking.)

I do think it is a shame the feature is not included, but I would not hold my breath o have it included. (Besides, if this dumbed down version+games is a hit. They can later release a *new* pro/HD/ultimate version for extra money. Not like ms never does that. ;-)

Hey guys,

Editor here, Microsoft is not talking about Kinect and accessibility beyond what they have already said until the conference. I'm sure when ablegamers comes back from the Microsoft accessibility conference in a few weeks we will have many more concrete answers.

However, almost everywhere is in agreement that the recognition by the camera currently installed in Kinect devices are barely good enough to recognize limbs let alone intricate finger movement. Unfortunately, it came down to cost.

I hope you come back and give us good news on kinect.

or I will be getting the move on the ps3....

We will

Well before that here is some more bad news: http://www.eurogamer.net/artic...pring-2011