Develop Kinect

Building upon the great 3D capturing Processing sketch (which is featured in Kinect Hacks), Javier Graciá Carpio has updated his Kinect Mash Viewer codebase and added a Kinect 3D face morphing and DLA drawing effect option to the app.

Control:mapper is a utility which enables you to use your Microsoft Kinect with almost any existing Windows application. Control:mapper monitors the movement of your body for predefined actions, then converts them to your specified keyboard and mouse commands.

This video demonstrates how their new software, control:mapper, enables you to play existing Windows applications using your Microsoft Kinect and a Windows 7 or 8 PC.

Assign any combination of keys and mouse control to defined gestures, or virtual triggers located in the space around your body.

The technological start-up CoVii introduced today at CES its new software for 3D sensors, which transforms any screen of any size into a touchscreen - ViiHaptic.

The Israeli company PrimeSense™, that created the 3D sensor technology, believes that this new CoVii’s software will revolutionize the digital signage market, because it can transform any screen of any size already used by companies into a touchscreen in a robust manner and with a much lower cost than a real touchscreen.

Fresh out the gate and right on time for all your holiday hacking needs comes the new OpenNI 2.0 SDK (along with a shinny new website to boot!). The Good folks at OpenNI have rebuild their widely used SDK from the ground up with several new enhancements pertaining to the way you build apps using 3D sensors.

Here's a list of using OpenNI 2.0 over the previous version:

Looking to blow some minds with your mad DIY skills? How about fabricating your very own portable Kinect! Thanks to the amazing work of some very talented developers from the University of Bristol, you too can take your 3D depth sensing adventures on the road. Schematics and board layout files along with a hardware shopping list is available for you to check out on their project page if you're interested in learning more.

The Kinect has this unique ability to really "wow" people while simultaneously creeping them the hell out. Take for example this hack put together by some animatronic wizards over at Disney for their theme park. The goal - juggle with a robot. That's right folks, soon you'll be able to toss a ball to your favourite Disney character and have it sent back before you send the next one over.